Kansas Highway Patrol

From Tuesday through July 10, the Kansas Highway Patrol will conduct a texting-enforcement initiative. Troopers will be out looking for drivers who are violating Kansas’ texting law and will be citing those observed in violation. The Kansas law states on a wireless device, drivers may not manually type, send or read a written communication, including, but not limited to, a text message, instant message or email.

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while driving creates a crash risk 23 times greater than driving while not distracted. In 2012, an estimated 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, this reflects a nine percent increase from the estimated 387,000 people injured in 2011. The Kansas Highway Patrol and local law enforcement enforce the texting law throughout the year, but this holiday period, the KHP will place a special emphasis focused on locating those texting while driving.

With the Fourth of July holiday, many motorists will be traveling across the nation. The KHP will be out actively looking for impaired drivers. With many celebrations across the state, drivers should make sure they are designating a sober driver. The patrol would also like to remind motorists to wear their seat belts and use the correctly fitted child safety seats, as they are the best defense should you be involved in a crash.