WICHITA, Kan. – Sept. 26, 2022 – AAA Kansas, with support from the AAA Kansas Traffic Safety Fund, has donated sets of LED road flare lights to three dozen smaller police departments and sheriff’s offices across the Sunflower State, to help increase visibility and safety when officers work roadside emergency incidents in dark conditions.

AAA Kansas presented 6-light sets of pi-lit^® smart sequential road flares to the following 36 police departments and sheriff’s offices all across Kansas.

 

Basehor Police Dept.

Blue Rapids Police Dept.

Caney Police Dept.

Cherokee Police Dept.

Cherryvale Police Dept.

Comanche County Sheriff

Council Grove Police Dept.

Decatur County Sheriff

Edwards County Sheriff

Eudora Police Dept.

Fredonia Police Dept.

Grant County Sheriff

Greeley County Sheriff

Greenwood County Sheriff

Hamilton County Sheriff

Haven Police Dept.

Kearny County Sheriff

La Harpe Police Dept.

Louisburg Police Dept.

Marion County Sheriff

Ness County Sheriff

Osawatomie Police Dept.

Pawnee County Sheriff

Phillips County Sheriff

Pleasanton Police Dept.

Rice County Sheriff

Silver Lake Police Dept.

Smith County Sheriff

Tonganoxie Police Dept.

Trego County Sheriff

Ulysses Police Dept.

Wallace County Sheriff

Waterville Police Dept.

Wellsville Police Dept.

Wichita County Sheriff

Yates Center Police Dept.

 

“Roadside workers, including law enforcement officers, road construction crews and tow truck operators, such as our AAA emergency roadside service technicians, are in put perilous situations while working their daily jobs, often just feet away from passing traffic,” said Shawn Steward, AAA Kansas spokesman. “In AAA Kansas’ ongoing commitment to educating motorists about “Move Over” safety laws and protecting roadside workers, it is our honor to donate these highly visible flare kits to our Kansas law enforcement partners, to help them return home safely to their families after nighttime duties along the roadways.”

Smaller law enforcement agencies receiving the donated flare kits have noted their appreciation for receiving useful safety equipment for their officers, especially when limited budgets often do not allow the agencies to purchase them themselves.

 

“Move Over” Laws

Move Over laws exist in all 50 states. AAA and other traffic safety advocates have been instrumental in the passage of laws to better protect tow truck drivers, road construction workers and other first responders.

Kansas’ Move Over law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a speed safe for road, weather, and traffic conditions. In Kansas, the original law took effect in 2000 to protect law enforcement officers. It has been expanded over the years to to reduce risk to roadside construction crews, emergency responders and tow operators and waste collection vehicles. It was most recently broadened during the 2021 Kansas Legislative session to include to utility and telecommunications crews.

If motorists are cited for violating this statute, they will face a $75 fine plus, potentially, additional court costs.

 

Tragic Numbers

Sadly, law enforcement officers and first responders are being struck by vehicles and injured or killed while working roadside at an alarming rate:

• Statistics from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) show that in 2021, there were 27 law enforcement officer struck-by fatalities. Many of these fatal incidents occurred while officers were investigating motor vehicle crashes or assisting drivers on the side of the road.
• According to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, 65 traffic incident management responders were killed due to roadside collisions across the United States in 2021.

 

What’s Being Done

Law enforcement agencies across Kansas and the nation regularly enforce Move Over law violations. AAA and its traffic safety partners will strengthen advocacy and community awareness throughout the year, including highlighting “National Move Over Day” which, this year, happens on October 19.

For more information, visit http://www.aaa.com/moveover or view AAA’s public service announcement video at https://vimeo.com/681036292.