Express Lane - Celebrate a safe and sober 4th of July

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View the Express Lane video for the June 26 edition.

Celebrate safely - the world is watching this July 4th

Don't let impaired or distracted driving ruin your holiday

Summer is here and the Fourth of July is near. Whether your festivities include sparklers and a backyard barbecue, watching an extravagant firework show from a safe distance or enjoying a relaxing evening with friends, make sure everyone has a safe and sober ride home. Plan ahead, choose a designated driver or arrange alternative transportation so the celebration ends safely for everyone.

In 2025, 117 people died in crashes involving at least one substance-impaired driver, and 662 people were seriously injured. While these fatalities have been trending downward since 2023, substance-impaired driving is still a problem that continues to plague Missouri. Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, slow reaction time and reduce coordination. Celebrate safely: If you can't plan to stay where you are, call for a sober driver or rideshare.

Distracted driving is another key contributor to traffic incidents during this time of year. Unexpected pops of lights and sounds in the sky from nearby fireworks can distract even the most focused drivers. Distracted driving fatalities reached an all-time high in 2023 and 2024, accounting for 106 fatalities each year. 2025 data shows distracted driving accounted for 97 fatalities, an 8% decrease from 2023 and 2024, but cellphone use continues to be a major contributing factor in distracted driving fatalities.

This data is an important reminder to resist the distracting temptations on the road, whether they're in the sky or inside your vehicle. Limit distractions by preparing navigation and music before you start driving, set your phone to Do Not Disturb and then put it down. If you need to answer a call while driving, make sure it's hands-free. Remember, it's the law.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety reminds all road users to make safe and responsible choices this holiday. With the addition of hundreds of thousands of World Cup visitors to the state, this year's Independence Day celebrations will affect more people than ever before. Let's all work together to ensure everyone returns home safely.

Visit SaveMOLives for more information on MoDOT's efforts to reduce the number of fatalities in Missouri. The Show-Me Zero Plan outlines strategies and solutions everyone can implement to prevent crashes and move forward with zero lives lost on our roadways.

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Express Lane is MoDOT's premier newsletter for sharing news and information about Missouri's evolving transportation system. As our subscriber base also evolves and grows, it's important for Express Lane to grow with it. We created a short survey for readers to provide feedback that will help shape the future of this publication so it can better serve our customers.

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MoDOT Intern Conference spotlights next generation's talent

MoDOT welcomed 146 summer interns to the annual Intern Conference June 23-25, which included team-building activities, discussions with leadership and more. MoDOT's Internship program offers hands-on experience in fields such as engineering, finance and environmental science. Interns can also receive post-graduate job offers. Last year, 14 of the 54 graduating interns accepted jobs within MoDOT. Find current openings on MoCareers.

Our Roads. Our Safety. Our Shared Responsibility.

Motorcycles, passenger vehicles, school buses and tractor-trailers are all very different modes of transportation that share the same roads. Commercial motor vehicles have larger blind spots and take longer to stop while motorcycles offer less protection for their drivers. The Our Roads, Our Safety campaign educates drivers on how adapting to these different types of vehicles can help avoid crashes, keeping Missouri's roadways safe for all users.

Today in Transportation - Transcontinental bicycle race of 1887

George W. Nellis Jr., a 27-year-old newspaperman, was in the middle of his transcontinental bicycle trip from Herkimer, NY to San Francisco when he stopped in Omaha, NE for a local bicycle racing tournament. Unfortunately, despite the locals viewing Nellis as a celebrity, he lost in the first event: a one-mile sprint. Nellis continued his cross-country ride the next day and eventually set a new record of 3,369 miles traveled in 72 days. Learn more.

July Event Calendar

July 3	Fourth of July holiday	State offices closed
July 6-10	2026 Youth Transportation Conference	Learn more on the YTC website
July 7 4-6 p.m.	Public Meeting Pine Lawn, MO	Route 115 (Natural Bridge Rd.) Safety and Operational Improvements project
July 14 4-6 p.m.	Public Meeting Independence, MO	U.S. Route 40 Improvements in Jackson County
July 28 4:30-6:30 p.m.	Public Meeting Kansas City, MO	Bannister Road pavement reconstruction in Jackson County

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