By Sarah Green
KHI News Service
TOPEKA, Jan. 16 An “epidemic” of highway fatalities has prompted a task force to ask lawmakers for two bills aimed at reducing injuries and fatalities on Kansas roads.
The Driving Force, a task force sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Highway Patrol, was formed to research ways to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities in Kansas.
The group released its findings at press conferences on Tuesday. Also, the House Transportation Committee agreed to introduce two bills recommended by the group: a stiffer seat belt law that would allow ticketing of unbelted drivers and a graduated driver”s licensing system that could require more supervision of teen drivers, who account for 20 percent of the state”s crashes. Current state laws allow police to ticket unbelted drivers only after stopping them for another offense.
Preliminary data show that 459 people were killed in car accidents in 2006, said Kansas Highway Patrol Col. William Seck.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Roderick Bremby labeled the problem an “epidemic” that costs lives and dollars. Last year, he said, traffic accidents cost the state $3 billion
or about $1,000 for each Kansas resident
“Many of our public health messages ask the public to wash their hands as a basic task,” he said. “In this case, to prevent accident and injury, the basic task is to buckle your seat belt,” Bremby said.
The Driving Force asks that the seat belt law allow law enforcement to stop unbelted drivers and that the fine for violation be increased to $60, up from the current $10.
The proposed graduated driver”s licensing system would affect the state”s youngest drivers, but not Kansas teenagers who drive using farm permits.
“Young drivers who are statistically having the most accidents are not those who drive grain trucks,” said Holly Higgins, Driving Force member and director of safety and agriculture education for Kansas Farm Bureau.
The proposed changes focus on increased supervision for teenagers, particularly when driving at night; allowing fewer young passengers to ride with young drivers; and improving driver”s education courses with standardized curriculum.
State Health Director Dr. Howard Rodenberg told the transportation committee that other states have seen immediate results
of 10 to 15 percent fewer traffic fatalities after passing primary seat belt legislation.
“In Kansas, that”s almost 100 lives saved instantly
100 more people who will be here next year,” he said.
Rep. Terrie Huntington, R-Mission Hills, a member of the committee, said she liked the proposals.
“I see the importance of saving health care costs, and, obviously, lives,” she said. “A second consideration is when people who are recovering from accidents are no longer able to work and support their families. That leads to additional costs, which come from state and federal dollars.”
Other recommendations by The Driving Force:
*
Fund and develop a comprehensive motorcycle safety program;
* Evaluate the use and administration of the medical review process used for older drivers;
*
Collect statewide data on the causes and consequences of traffic accidents;
*
Roads should have shoulder and centerline rumble strips where possible;
*
Require hospitals to provide traffic safety and trauma care education to emergency department nurses.
A complete list of recommendations is available from KDOT:
http://www.ksdot.org/DrivingForce/default.asp
Sarah Green is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. She can be reached at
sgreen@khi.org
or at 785-233-5443, ext. 118.