NEWS RELEASE: May 2, 2008
FROM: The Kansas Highway Patrol
CONTACT: Captain Daniel D. Meyer (785) 296-7189
Sergeant Pauline Ferguson (785) 296-7189
Trucks on Patrol Throughout South Central Kansas
TOPS program continues in 2008
For the second consecutive year, the Kansas Highway Patrol's Trucks on Patrol for Safety (TOPS) program is rolling across highways throughout the state. The program, pairing commercial vehicle companies and drivers with the Patrol, and supported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was implemented in the state of Kansas in 2007. The goal of TOPS is to help reduce injuries and deaths related to large truck crashes on Kansas' roadways.
"It's vital to continue raising citizens' awareness of the importance of safety on the roadway,"said Governor Kathleen Sebelius. "With the number of trucks on Kansas roadways each day it's important we work together to decrease the number of injuries and fatalities throughout our state."
This is the fourth week of this year’s TOPS deployment. The TOPS program spent this week traveling around the south central region of the state. United Petroleum Transport Inc. provided a truck, trailer, and driver for the Patrol to use in this week’s deployment. There will be a media conference at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 2 to discuss results for the program. The conference will be held at the United Petroleum Transport Inc. terminal, located at 6021 N. Broadway, in Wichita. The truck and trailer, with the camera system will be available for photo opportunities. Each week, the violation data is being tabulated and posted on the Kansas Highway Patrol's Web site. Go to http://www.kansashighwaypatrol.org to get the latest TOPS information.
The TOPS program provides troopers an opportunity to ride with professional semi truck drivers. The troopers onboard the large trucks have a front seat view to witness, document, and report violations to other troopers on patrol in the immediate area. Each vehicle is equipped with a temporary five-camera system that records violations by both passenger vehicles and other commercial vehicles. 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. 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.
In 2006, large trucks were involved in 5.3 percent of all traffic crashes and 14.3 percent of all fatal crashes in Kansas. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, there were 61 fatal collisions involving large trucks. The driver of the large truck had at least one contributing factor in 23 (or 38 percent) of these crashes. There were 3,447 crashes in 2006 involving heavy trucks, which equates to one crash every 2.54 hours involving a large vehicle. In those 3,447 crashes, 69 people were killed and another 1,026 were injured. This demonstrates the need to promote awareness about the safe operation of all vehicles around large trucks.
One of the primary focuses of the TOPS program is to raise the public's awareness of the added precautions that must be taken when sharing the road with large trucks. Because of the benefits of educating the public and striving to reduce traffic deaths on the highways, FMCSA is encouraging more states to get involved in programs similar to the TOPS program. To help raise awareness, this year's TOPS program includes a media campaign, which Kansas residents can expect to see and hear later this summer.
"Last year's program was very successful, and I am pleased that our efforts will continue with another year of TOPS," said Patrol Superintendent Colonel Terry Maple. "The participation of our partners in the trucking industry demonstrates their commitment to traffic safety in Kansas and educating drivers about safety around large trucks."
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.