An effort to crack down on unbuckled drivers on Kansas roads and highways is underway. Extra officers will be on patrol as part of the Memorial Day Weekend “Click It Or Ticket” campaign.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the peak of summer travel across our nation’s highways is about to begin. The Kansas Highway Patrol will be working additional hours for the next two weeks, thanks in part to funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation through the Special Traffic Enforcement Program campaign, to help motorists reach their destinations safely. The enforcement campaign runs from Monday, May 19, through Sunday, June 1.
The STEP program allows officers to work overtime hours, providing extra manpower on the roads and focusing on areas such as occupant protection, enforcing impaired driving laws, and other traffic safety issues. This year’s focus of the Memorial Day STEP campaign is, “Click It or Ticket,” encouraging seatbelt/child safety seat use for occupants of all ages.
Over the 2013 Memorial Day holiday reporting period for the Patrol (KHP stats only), troopers worked three fatal crashes on Kansas’ highways. Three people were killed in those crashes, all of which were alcohol-related. There were nine total impaired driving crashes. The Patrol arrested 30 people for impaired driving. Personnel also assisted 1,176 motorists who needed help on Kansas roads.
Local law enforcement from around the state will join troopers as part of the effort.
