Via KTTS.com

Hundreds of safety advocates are in Columbia this week to discuss ways to reverse Missouri's spike in traffic fatalities.

The Traffic Safety and Blueprint Conference is in Columbia through Thursday.

MoDOT Highway Safety Director Bill Whitfield says about 470 safety advocates are attending.

"There are city/county and state law enforcement.  We have some high schools coming in, universities, different safety advocates, metropolitan planning organizations and regional planning commission," Whitfield tells Missourinet.

Whitfield says there was a 14% increase in traffic crash deaths between 2014 and 2015 - and adds the numbers are increasing across the board.

"Nationally, there are 96 people dying every day.  In Missouri, we're losing two people every 11 hours due to vehicle crashes," added Whitfield.