Some state-employed drivers are a safety and a monetary hazard for Kansas.

Kansas officials may not be able to get all problem drivers off the road, but they can at least take a look at the ones who work for them.

State Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger raised an interesting issue this week when she noted that from April 2002 to April 2003, 95 state employees were at fault in wrecks involving state-owned vehicles. Of those drivers, 35 had previous driving violations and 13 had more than one. Three had convictions for driving under the influence.

Praeger aptly pointed out that this circumstance was an issue of money as well as safety. The state shouldn’t be letting people with poor records drive state vehicles, because they may endanger other people. But it’s also a matter of dollars and cents for state taxpayers because of the liability and, consequently, higher insurance rates the state incurs because of the accidents these drivers cause.

To help remedy the situation, Praeger asked Department of Administration Secretary Howard Fricke to establish a policy prohibiting anyone with an unacceptable driving record from driving a state vehicle. It’s amazing that such a policy isn’t already in place.

Thanks to Praeger for suggesting a common-sense action that seems long overdue.