Officials address dangers of Belt Highway speeding for motorcyclist

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Since 2023, a motorcycle fatality has occurred along the Belt Highway each year, and St. Joseph police are taking note of the cause.

As a member of the St. Joseph Police Department’s Traffic Unit, Sgt. James Tonn knows more than he’d like to about the devastating impact of a deadly motorcycle crash. 

“We don’t like seeing a rise in any crime or accidents, but more so one that ends in a fatality,” Tonn said. “It’s tough for us and unimaginably tough for the families.” 

Motorcycle accidents by the numbers

Police data revealed the following about motorcycle crashes involving injuries in St. Joseph since 2023:

• 2023: 35 motorcycle injury crashes 
• 2024: 37 motorcycle injury crashes 
• 2025 so far: 6 motorcycle injury crashes 

There have been three fatal motorcycle crashes on the Belt Highway since 2023. All three have one factor in common -- extreme speed.

• 2023, Belt and Pear: Motorcycle was northbound on the Belt traveling at 101 mph. No charges were filed. 
• 2024, Belt and Karnes: The motorcycle was northbound on the Belt approaching Taco Bell at 100 mph. No charges were filed. 
• 2024, 2200 North Belt: The motorcycle was northbound on the Belt at 114 mph. The van was southbound on the Belt, making a left-hand turn into Taco Johns. The driver of the van did not see the motorcycle. No charges were filed.
• 2025, Belt and Beck: The motorcycle was southbound on Belt crossing Beck Road at 107 mph. No charges were filed. 

In each of these crashes, the motorcyclist was traveling above 100 mph in an area where the posted limit is 40 mph, police said.

“People want to blame the car, and I understand that people do need to pay attention,” Tonn said. “But the issue is with going almost three times the speed, you're getting to that intersection three times faster and the person making the turn has a third of the time they thought they had to make a turn and they don't even see you coming.” 

Frank Till with the St. Joseph Safety Council took measurements on Charles Street at the south Belt facing east on Charles to get an estimate of the perception and reaction time it takes to see a hazard and to react to it. The average perception/reaction time is between ¾ to 1.5 seconds, he said.  

Vehicles coming south on the Belt Highway can be seen at approximately 389 feet away due to the crest of the hill.  Using the perception/reaction average time of 1 second, a vehicle traveling at 100 mph has already traveled 146 of the 389 feet by the time the driver begins to react, giving them only 243 feet to do something to avoid a crash. 

"These motorcyclists are operating at speeds over twice the legal limit for the road that they’re riding on,” Till said. “These motorcycles are incredibly fast, agile and they stop really good, but when you're traveling those speeds on city roads and streets, you just don't have the time to react.” 

Safety options

Local bikers at St. Joe Harley Davidson said these are alarming statistics that do lead to worry while they’re on the roads. However, practicing safety is key, many said. 

“There's always that risk, that's why I ride motorcycles . . . it’s fun and a little dangerous,” said Jesse Youngs, service director at St. Joe Harley Davidson. “But most of the time, it’s alwaysa safe ride as long as you're taking the proper measures with safety equipment and watching all your surroundings, whether it's road debris, the driver in front of you or behind you. You have to be aware.” 

Staff at St. Joe Harley-Davidson said inexperienced people come into the shop often with an interest in riding and they generally steer those drivers to a safety course. 

“Whether you’re inexperienced or maybe you haven’t been riding that long, we always encourage riders to take a two-day safety course and get introduced into safety tips and habits because when dealing with any motorcycle, you have to conduct yourself in an appropriate way,” Matthew Banks, floor manager at Harley-Davidson, said.

While Missouri is a no-helmet-law state, officials urge all motorcyclists to wear one as it can determine life or death. 

“Yes, the law says you don't have to wear a helmet,” Tonn said. “But my family says I should. I ride a motorcycle and I'm never going 100 miles an hour, but even in a slow-speed crash, if I hit my head, I can get killed.” 

Tonn said he doesn't discourage motorcyclists from driving on the Belt, nor does he think it's an especially dangerous area. But he notes that because it does see more traffic than some roads across the city, slowing down is the safest option.

The St. Joseph Police Department is using data to help their enforcement approach and determine what areas may need to be monitored more frequently.