Police in Ark City will participate in a statewide initiative to reduce speeding and enhance overall road safety.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Kansas Dept. of Transportation and the Drive To Zero Coalition, aims to raise awareness about the dangers of speeding and reduce speed-related crashes and fatalities.
From July 22 through Aug. 11, motorists in Ark City can expect increased safety messaging and enhanced speed limit enforcement as part of the “Speeding Wrecks Lives” campaign, according to a written release from local police.
This initiative, local police officials said, is in response to alarming statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which reveal that the chance of death or severe injury doubles for every 10 miles per hour over 50 mph that a vehicle travels.
Speeding is a factor in almost one-third of all traffic fatalities nationwide. (Continue story below ads.)
In 2023 in Kansas, 79 people lost their lives in speed-related crashes, a reduction from 2022. However, the number of people seriously injured in speed-related crashes increased to 2,085 in 2023, highlighting the ongoing and urgent need for vigilance and adherence to speed limits, police said.
According to NHTSA, it takes about 221 feet to stop a vehicle traveling 50 mph. When the vehicle’s speed increases to 80 mph, the stopping distance nearly doubles to about 460 feet.
Compounded crash risks when speeding include:
- Increased chance of losing control of the vehicle.
- Reduced effectiveness of seat belts and child safety seats.
- Increased stopping distance needed.
- Increased chance for serious injury or fatality due to speed and mass impact.
- Increased fuel consumption and vehicle costs for the driver.
“The Arkansas City Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of all road users and urges all drivers to adhere to posted speed limits,” according to their written statement.
