TOPEKA, Kan. — Motorists traveling four stretches of highway across Kansas will now see increased traffic safety messaging and new signage as part of the Safety Corridor Pilot Program.
According to a news release from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), the Safety Corridor Pilot Program is a five-year initiative to reduce fatalities and serious injuries in four selected safety corridors.
“Increased law enforcement, traffic safety education campaigns, low-cost engineering improvements and a review of emergency response issues are part of the comprehensive approach of the program’s goals,” the news release stated.
Road users traveling the safety corridors will see new warning signs: “Safety Corridor – Increased Enforcement.”
The safety corridors were selected based on a history of fatal and serious injury crashes, availability of additional law enforcement and input from local transportation safety partners.
From 2016 to 2021, more than 500 crashes occurred on these corridors resulting in 35 deaths and 68 serious injuries, according to KDOT officials.
In early 2023, meetings were held with area traffic safety partners to discuss issues, make recommendations and develop an overall plan.
The four corridors include:
- Interstate 135: Sedgwick and Harvey counties, from 53rd Street in Park City to Exit 34 in North Newton.
- U.S. 24: Pottawatomie County, from St. Marys west to Manhattan.
- U.S. 83/50: Finney County, from Plymell north through Garden City and west to the Holcomb exit.
- U.S. 69: Crawford County, from the U.S. 400 junction north through Frontenac and Pittsburg to the U.S. 160 junction.
The Safety Corridor Pilot Program is a strategic initiative of the Drive To Zero (DTZ) Coalition. As such, partnering organizations in the DTZ Coalition will support the program with initial and long-term safety messaging to area communities and their organization’s customers.
The Drive To Zero Coalition is an executive-level body representing state and federal agencies, advocacy organizations, the private sector and the Kansas House and Senate Transportation Committees. The coalition’s objective is to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes on Kansas roadways.
“Cisco is proud to be part of the DTZ Coalition and its educational effort seeking to mitigate risky driving behaviors, including speeding, not wearing a seat belt, impairment and distraction,” said Joel Keller, Account Manager for Cisco’s Heartland Region.
“The state’s leadership in this ongoing campaign has been critical, and through the DTZ Coalition the private sector can share unique expertise and leverage state-of-the-art technologies to complement educational awareness. Creating a cultural change in driving behaviors not only along the corridors but state-wide saves lives, strengthening families, businesses and communities.”
This Safety Corridor Pilot Program will run until 2028.
Secondary educational messages in schools and businesses along the four corridors will be distributed beginning in August.
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