2007-37
MEDIA ADVISORY: July 24, 2007
FROM:   The Kansas Highway Patrol
CONTACT:  Captain Daniel D. Meyer (785) 296-7189
Lieutenant John A. Eichkorn (785) 296-6800

Trucks Patrolling for Safety Again in South Central Kansas

TOPS Program Looking for Violations

The Kansas Highway Patrol's safety program, Trucks on Patrol for Safety (TOPS), will again be traveling the south central region of the state until Friday. Following the week-long deployment, there will be a news conference in Wichita on Friday, July 27, 2007, at 10 a.m. The conference will be held at Basic Chemical, located at 6200 S. Ridge Road.

The Patrol is partnering with commercial vehicle companies and drivers to equip the companies’ large trucks with a temporary five-camera system. Troopers will board the large trucks equipped with the camera system and will relay information to other troopers in KHP patrol units who will then enforce the crash-causing violations observed from the large trucks.

The partnering company's truck will be on display, with the camera system, in addition to other photo opportunities with Kansas Highway Patrol troopers. Interviews to discuss the success of the program will also be available. Statistics collected from enforcement action for the length of the program will be released at that time, as well.

The Kansas Highway Patrol has set a goal to reduce the number of fatality, injury, and property damage crashes in the state. The TOPS program was instituted with this goal in mind.