In the St. Louis Metro Area, an average of one person perishes daily.  Nationwide, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of mortality in the 16-35 age group.  What can be done?

Statistics highlighted on "The Randy Tobler Show" on 97.1 FM Talk in St. Louis MO Saturday August 7th show that over 80% of highway crashes involve three predominant problems:

1) Driver inattentiveness

2) Roadway engineering or hazard issues

3) Alcohol

Blair Forlaw, Director of Policy and Community Development of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments and Charles Campbell, whose daughter died after the 3rd consecutive crach on a stretch of highway one icy day in 2004 were guests.  The phones lit up with account after account of drivers driving while shaving (yours truly has to 'fess up to this on occasion), putting on lipstick, or even changing entire outfits while behind the wheel.  We heard about hot spot areas that by common knowledge were dangerous either by design or inherent susceptibility to weather dependent hazard. 

Identified areas of need were

1) more resiliency and nimble response to citizens' complaints by MoDOT

2) lack of a highway "911" system so that motorists could call and bring attention to authorities erratic or dangerous drivers

3) a sense of personal and civic responsibility when turning on that ignition key

The Council's education initiative should address our own awareness and invoke some introspection when we get behind that engine powered land missile, but what about defective roads, or the drivers who selfishly ignore the golden rule to their and their road mates peril?

How about a "highway watch program, a '911' knockoff for highway dangerous driver alerts or some other out of the box tactic?  Maybe it's time to deputize frequent fliers on dangerous stretches to become law enforcement's extenders.  Please vote on this week's poll so we can gain momentum behind a wakeup call for MoDOT and our elected officials.  Tell your friends about the show and the site.  Let's start a grass roots movement to make our roadways safer.  Do it today before it's too late.