Road users traveling U.S. 69 in Crawford County will see newly installed yellow “Safety Corridor – Increased Enforcement” signage. These warning signs bring attention to heightened law enforcement efforts as part of a Safety Corridor Pilot Program launched in Summer 2023. The Safety Corridor Pilot Program is a five-year initiative aimed at reducing fatal and serious injury crashes on four selected highway corridors in Kansas. The Program entails a comprehensive set of strategies in enforcement, education, engineering, and emergency response.
The U.S. 69 Safety Corridor extends from the U.S. 400 junction north through Frontenac and Pittsburg to the U.S. 160 junction. Crash reports indicate 98 total crashes occurred along the U.S. 69 corridor route over a five-year timeframe (2016-2021), including 4 fatalities and 19 serious injuries. The Kansas Department of Transportation installed signage to alert motorists of increased enforcement of risky driving behaviors associated with crash risk.
“U.S. 69 was selected for this pilot safety initiative based on a history of fatal and serious injury crashes and crash reports noting a reoccurring pattern of risky driving behaviors,” said Southeast District Engineer Wayne Gudmonson. “The goal is to help travelers get home safely by bringing attention to the importance of obeying traffic laws, wearing seat belts and advancing a culture of safe driving behaviors.”
The Safety Corridor Pilot Program will run until 2028. Secondary educational messages in schools and businesses along the four corridors will be distributed beginning this month. For more information on the Safety Corridor Pilot Program, visit the program website at https://www.ksdot.gov/bureaus/burTrafficSaf/safetycorridor.asp.
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