Kansas Governor Laura Kelly reported Tuesday that the state has had its lowest number of traffic deaths since 2015.  The state reported 388 deaths in 2023, compared to 410 fatalities the previous year.

Kelly gives credit in part to the $10 billion Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program that has funded road improvement projects across the state.   She is urging Kansans to do their part by using seat belts, following posted speed limits, avoiding distractions, and driving sober.”  

The Kansas Department of Transportation says buckling up can increase the survivability of a crash by 45 percent. The Drive To Zero Coalition credits initiatives included in the Kansas Strategic Highway Safety Plan to helping lower fatalities and serious injuries.   State transportation secretary Calvin Reed said in a press release that the Safety Plan “has resulted in increased behavioral safety messaging and low-cost engineering improvements, such as the designation of four Safety Corridors, communities building safety coalitions, and law enforcement increasing engagement with the public.”