Pedestrian safety

St. Louis added a crosswalk with a traffic signal and made other safety improvements to a stretch of Chippewa Street near Ted Drewes that’s been the site of several pedestrian fatalities.

The initiative followed the deadliest year for pedestrians on St. Louis-area streets.

A new crash report found that pedestrian deaths are on the rise in St. Louis and St. Louis County.

While pedestrian deaths increased, overall roadway fatalities went down in 2024.

Financial penalties go into effect in January for drivers holding their phones and touching a screen while operating a vehicle.

The popular south St. Louis business has a history of traffic incidents. The spot has been slated for improvements since drivers struck and killed two pedestrians in 2022.

Plans include new transit lines and redesigning major roads to make them safer and more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.

The report shows 40% of the region’s crashes are in economically disadvantaged areas. It could help officials apply for federal funds to help reduce vehicle and pedestrian crashes by half by 2050.

Twenty-seven people have died in car crashes this year, along with four pedestrians. Drivers have injured another 134 pedestrians and four cyclists.

While the bill was promoted as a way to enhance safety, critics contended it would have made life worse for people with disabilities.