Missouri
Teens hitting the road in Missouri face dangerous driving conditions, study finds — again
Teenagers are often eager to start driving, but getting behind the wheel is one of the riskiest things they’ll do, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens ages 16 to 19, with a fatal crash rate three times higher than drivers ages 20 and over, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Missouri teens are especially at risk compared to other states. Financial website WalletHub ranked the state as the second worst for teen drivers in 2023. The financial website’s 2024 ranking says that hasn’t changed.
A total of 2,883 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2022, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says. Teenagers also accounted for 7% of motor vehicle crash deaths.
WalletHub analyzed the teen driving environment in all 50 states across three categories — safety, economic environment and driving laws — and found that Missouri is the second worst state in the country for teen drivers. The website used statistics from the CDC, U.S. Census Bureau, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and FBI.
Here’s how Missouri ranked among the 50 states in WalletHub’s individual metrics:
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47th in distracted driving and texting while driving laws
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47th in vehicle miles traveled per capita
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47th in impaired driving laws
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40th most teen driver fatalities per 100,000 teens
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37th for poor quality of roads
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34th most teen DUIs per 100,000 teens
When compared to the states, Missouri ranked 45th in the safety category, 28th the economic environment category and 50th in the driving laws category.
On a scale of 100, Missouri finished with a score of 31.68, two points better than last year’s score of 29.93. The lower the number, the worse the state ranked.
It’s six points ahead of Montana, which was ranked the worst state for teen drivers in the country for a second consecutive year. Wyoming, Idaho and North Dakota round out the top five.
The best state for teen driving is New York, passing Oregon.
Source: WalletHub
Juneteenth 2024: How to celebrate
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Here’s how to prep for and celebrate the important holiday.
Problem Solved
Juneteenth is marking five years since it was officially recognized as a federal holiday.
Given the holiday’s relatively recent federal designation, it may not be clear to many what will be open/closed on Juneteenth. Will the post office be open? Will my trash get collected? Can I go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew my license?
Here’s a guide to what is open and closed on Juneteenth in Missouri.
When is Juneteenth 2026?
This year, Juneteenth will be celebrated on Friday, June 19. The holiday is also often celebrated on the third Saturday of June, with many events taking place on that day.
Communities use this day to honor resilience, culture and progress through various events, gatherings and activities. These can include church services, picnics, barbecues, parades and festivals, to name a few.
Are federal or Missouri state offices open on Juneteenth?
Given that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, non-essential federal offices will be closed.
It’s also a state holiday in Missouri, so all local governments and state offices will be closed, as well.
Will major retailers be open on Juneteenth?
Most major retailers, grocery stores, warehouse clubs and restaurants should be open on Juneteenth, but you may want to check with your local stores to confirm business hours, as they can vary by location.
Is the post office open on Juneteenth? Will mail be delivered?
All post offices will be closed, and mail will not be delivered on Juneteenth, according to the U.S. Postal Service’s website.
FedEx and UPS will operate more or less as usual, and their stores will be open.
Are banks open on Juneteenth?
Most banks will be closed on Juneteenth, as most follow the Federal Reserve’s holiday schedule.
Is the stock market open on Juneteenth?
Both the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market will be closed on Juneteenth.
Will trash pickup happen on Juneteenth?
Trash pickup on Juneteenth varies from city to city, so it’s best to check with your local waste management service to see whether they observe the holiday.
Trash pickup can be delayed by one day if the scheduled pickup falls on a federal holiday.
Columbia will have normal trash pickup on Friday, according to the city’s website. Each hauler in Springfield sets its own holiday schedule. Ozark Refuse, Republic Services and Waste Management are not delayed for the holiday.
Are libraries and DMV offices open on Juneteenth?
Holiday hours can vary among Missouri’s libraries, so it’s best to check whether the ones in your area will be open on Juneteenth.
The Daniel Boone Regional Library network in Columbia and Springfield-Greene County Library District branches will be closed.
All Missouri Department of Revenue offices will be closed on Juneteenth, including driver examination stations. With that being said, some license offices will be operating during the holiday, so check the Missouri License Office Locator to see if your local office is open.
PETTIS COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) – A Sedalia man is dead and a woman is recovering after a single-vehicle crash, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Troopers say the crash happened around 11:20 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, near the intersection of Route M and Whiteman Rd.
Investigators add that a 2018 Dodge Challenger, driven by a 30-year-old Sedalia man, was traveling north on the highway when it veered off the right side of the road.
MSHP notes that the vehicle struck a tree and a fence before rolling over.
First responders say they pronounced the driver dead at the scene around 11:55 p.m. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Authorities indicate that a 26-year-old female passenger, also from Sedalia, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center. She was not wearing a seatbelt.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. No further information has been released.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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