Kansas Traffic Safety Program Aims To Cuts Crashes with Increased Patrols
Increased police patrols in Kansas will hopefully reduce the number of car accidents in the state, according to a recent Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) pilot program designed to prevent car crashes through additional police enforcement.
The five-year KDOT program recently completed its first year, according to Roads & Bridges. State and local law enforcement spent 1,300 hours patrolling four specific highways in Kansas – Interstate 135, US Route 83/50, US Route 69, and US Route 24.
Can increased police patrols reduce car accidents in Kansas?
The short answer? Yes. Studies have found that when there are more state and local police patrolling the streets, the number of car accidents often decreases due to a larger police presence on certain streets and highways.
This is why KDOT launched its Safety Corridor Pilot Program last year in Kansas. The state agency hopes the program will reduce the number of car accidents statewide over the next five years.
"The Safety Corridor Pilot Program aims to decrease fatalities and serious injuries on four highway corridors by implementing proven safety countermeasures, such as increasing the presence of state and local law enforcement,” according to a press release from KDOT.
Colonel Erik Smith, superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, agreed. "An increased presence… deters dangerous driving behaviors that cause an increased risk for crashes,” Smith said in an interview with Roads & Bridges.
Car accident fatalities are on the rise in Kansas
Sadly, car accidents remain a serious problem in Kansas. Each year more than 400 people each year on average die in car accidents in Kansas, according to accident data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In 2022, the most recent year for accident data, Kansas had 410 motor vehicle deaths. A decade earlier, that number was 350 car accident fatalities in 2013. That’s a 17 percent increase in the number of car accident deaths in just nine years.
Top causes of crash fatalities in Kansas
While the numbers may fluctuate, the causes of serious or fatal car accidents in Kansas remain alarmingly consistent. The most common include:
- Drunk driving, responsible for 26% of car accident deaths in Kansas in 2022.
- Speeding, the leading cause of 23% of car accident fatalities that same year.
- Distracted drivingg, such as texting or other distractions that take the driver’s focus off the road.
- Reckless driving, like running red lights or ignoring traffic rules.
- Drowsy driving, a frequent cause of head-on collisions on rural roads and high-speed highways.
Injured in a Kansas crash? Get help from a Wichita car accident lawyer
Just because another driver caused your accident doesn't mean you'll automatically receive fair compensation. Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts, especially in cases involving serious injuries, where the costs can be substantial. That's why it's so important to contact an attorney who knows how to deal with insurance adjusters and can protect your rights.
At Warner Law Offices, our Wichita car accident attorneys understand what's at stake. We fight for the compensation you deserve, ensuring your case gets the attention it needs. Our results speak for themselves, including a $3.9 million settlement for one accident victim.
Trust a Kansas law firm that puts you first. Contact us today for a free case evaluation, and let us help you get your life back on track. We serve clients throughout Kansas.