Sunflower State News

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is urging drivers to reduce their speed as part of the national "Speeding Catches Up With You" campaign, which runs through the end of July. This initiative aims to promote safer driving habits during the busy summer travel season.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding contributes to over a quarter of all traffic-related fatalities nationwide. Preliminary data from 2024 in Kansas indicates that 70 people died and more than 2,000 were injured in crashes involving speeding.

To support this campaign, KDOT has implemented speed feedback signs along four designated safety corridors. These signs, which have been collecting traffic speed data, will now display real-time speeds to encourage safe driving. The selected corridors are based on crash history, input from local traffic safety partners, and additional law enforcement availability. Drivers may notice an increased law enforcement presence in these areas.

Gary Herman, KDOT Behavioral Safety Manager, said: "Whether you’re in a hurry or just not thinking about how fast you’re going, speeding is a choice that can have deadly consequences." He emphasized that speed limits exist for the safety of drivers, passengers, and others.

Beyond legal violations, speeding increases risks such as losing vehicle control more easily, reducing seatbelt effectiveness, increasing stopping distances, and raising the likelihood of costly repairs or property damage. It also heightens the chance of being stopped by law enforcement.

For further information on the dangers of speeding, individuals are encouraged to visit the NHTSA website.

Information from this article can be found here.