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2007-23
PRESS RELEASE :  May 25 , 2007
FROM:   The Kansas Highway Patrol
CONTACT:   Captain Daniel D. Meyer (785) 296-7189
Lieutenant John A. Eichkorn (785) 296-6800

Trucks Patrolling Metro Area for Safety

TOPS program Continues Through Kansas

The Kansas Highway Patrol's Trucks on Patrol for Safety (TOPS) program continued this week in the Kansas City metro area. The program is supported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and partners the Patrol with local commercial vehicle companies and drivers. Each week, the violation data is being tabulated and posted on the Kansas Highway Patrol's Web site at http://www.kansashighwaypatrol.org. Click on the first item in the "Hot Topics" box.

The TOPS program provides troopers an opportunity to ride with professional semi truck drivers. The troopers onboard the large trucks will have a front seat view to witness, document, and report violations to other troopers on patrol in the immediate area. Through TOPS, troopers will enforce state laws and federal regulations in and around large trucks, as well as educate the motoring public of the dangers that exist around semis. There will be two seven-week deployments of the program. Deployments for the program began April 9 in the south central region of the state. During the second seven week deployment this summer, violations will be re-evaluated to determine the program's effectiveness.

"I want to thank industry and governmental partners that have agreed to work with the Patrol on this important program," said Patrol Superintendent Colonel William R. Seck. "Building and maintaining relationships between the Patrol and the private sector is a key element in achieving our agency's goal to reduce the number of fatality crashes in Kansas. By working together, we can educate more Kansans about traffic safety and ultimately save more lives."

The trucks, trailers, and drivers that the Patrol will be using have been donated by the industry. The companies partner with the Patrol for a week in a specific region of the state to make these resources available. Each vehicle is equipped with a temporary five-camera system that records violations by both passenger vehicles and other large trucks. The partnering company for this past week was Swift Transportation Company, Inc. Swift donated the use of a truck, trailer and driver to the Patrol.

In 2005, large trucks were involved in 5.7 percent of all traffic crashes and 17.7 percent of all fatal crashes in Kansas. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, there were 68 fatal collisions involving large trucks. The driver of the large truck had at least one contributing factor in 22 (or 32 percent) of these crashes. There were 3,902 crashes in 2005 involving heavy trucks, which equates to one crash every 2.25 hours involving a large vehicle. In those 3,902 crashes, 81 people were killed and another 1,214 were injured. This demonstrates the need to promote awareness about the safe operation of all vehicles around large trucks.

"Too many Kansas families have been impacted by tragic crashes on our roadways," Governor Kathleen Sebelius said. "I appreciate the financial and technical support of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the combined efforts of the Highway Patrol and the motor carrier industry. These partnerships should be an example to others striving to prevent roadway deaths and injuries."

As with all law enforcement agencies, the Kansas Highway Patrol is committed to serving the public, increasing productivity, and promoting safety for all motorists. To help achieve these goals, the Patrol would like drivers to remember these safety tips while sharing the road with large trucks.

  • Stay out of truck blind spots. Although every truck has side mirrors, the driver still has blind spots - areas directly behind and on both sides of the truck where the driver cannot see cars. Look at the truck; if you can't see the driver's side view mirrors, you are in a blind spot and the driver can't see you. If your car is beside a large truck, either drive on past or back off. If you are passing, try to drive your car on the left side, where the blind spot is smaller.
  • Never follow a large truck too closely. Stay behind large trucks by at least one car length for every 10 miles per hour of speed. Providing extra distance allows you to see in front of the truck. If there is congested traffic or a crash ahead of you, you will see it in time to stop or safely steer your car away from the danger.
  • Use extra caution when passing a large truck. After you pass a large truck, do not pull your car back into its traffic lane until you see its headlights in your rearview mirror. Leaving this extra distance gives the truck driver time to slow down or stop if something is happening on the highway ahead.
  • Always remember that a loaded tractor-trailer or semi truck needs as much as 100 yards - the length of a football field - to come to a complete stop. No matter how crowded the highway, make sure to maintain this safe distance. If the truck driver ignores this margin of safety and follows your car too closely, do not take a chance. Move your car into another traffic lane.
  • Always use your turn signal when changing lanes. Drivers around you need to know what you are doing so they can maintain a safe driving distance.
  • Always use seatbelts and child safety seats when appropriate. This is your best defense against injury and death should you become involved in a motor vehicle crash.