Total fatalities stay high
The number of people killed in Kansas auto accidents rose 5 percent in 2012, to 402 deaths, according to preliminary data from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Pete Bodyk, KDOT traffic safety manager, said the reason for the increase isn’t clear, and the state has seen a general decline for more than a decade. But as officials sort through last year’s reports, they’ll be looking at distracted driving, a spike in pedestrian accidents, increased speed limits and failure to wear seat belts as possible contributors to the deadly accidents.
KDOT officials suspect distracted driving, including texting and cellphone use, may play a role in keeping the fatality numbers high, but in many accidents there may not be actual evidence of this.
Some other key numbers from state statistics:
• Pedestrian fatalities jumped from 20 to 30 last year, with many killed trying to cross highways.
• In July 2011, speed limits increased from 70 to 75 mph along most of the Kansas Turnpike and U.S. highways 69 and 81.
• 63 percent of fatality victims were not wearing seat belts.
For the second straight year, the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Kansas has dropped, according to preliminary data from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Such deaths were nearly cut in half between 2011, when the state recorded 102 deaths, and 2012, which recorded just 57.
Alcohol-related traffic accidents also declined in 2012 to 2,184, the lowest number in more than a decade.
The decreasing trend comes after years of increases in alcohol-related traffic fatalities and accidents in the state, while the rest of the nation has seen a steady decline.
Pete Bodyk, traffic safety manager for KDOT, said it's encouraging news in an area lawmakers and public safety officials have emphasized in recent years.
"It's been one of the toughest things" figuring out how to cut alcohol-related traffic fatalities and accidents, Bodyk said.
Though it's difficult to pinpoint an exact cause and effect, Bodyk points to the DUI ignition interlock law, effective July 2011, that requires even first-time DUI offenders to use an ignition interlock device.
Bodyk also said increasing efforts by police have most likely helped curb the numbers.
"It's more the awareness that law enforcement are out there," Bodyk said.
Bodyk said he'd like to see two more years of decreasing numbers before he calls the decrease a trend.
Though the numbers across Kansas have dropped, Lawrence saw a number of high-profile alcohol-related incidents in 2012, including an accident where a Kansas University student lost his legs, and a mid-day head-on crash involving a repeat DUI offender.
Comments
Rara_Avis 5 months, 1 week ago
Locally, it's pretty bad.
Food_for_Thought 5 months, 1 week ago
I'd have to agree. I think statewide, it's gone down, but this year has been worse for Lawrence; if not the frequency of accidents, definitely the severity of injury.
KSManimal 5 months, 1 week ago
I wonder.....what percentage of registered vehicles in those years have antilock brakes and airbags? I would assume these numbers would go up as old cars are retired and newer cars replace them. Might those trends have a lot to do with the number of accidents and the outcome of those accidents?
Ian_Cummings 5 months, 1 week ago
If you haven't seen the sidebar (it doesn't appear on all mobile devices), you might like to check that out. KDOT data shows fatalities of all kinds remained fairly level over the same period, and actually rose four percent last year.
Ian_Cummings 5 months, 1 week ago
The figure of 174 was current in August of last year. KDOT does not update those figures frequently. The correct, though preliminary, total figure of traffic fatalities in 2012 was 402, which is a little higher than last year. So, the decline in alcohol-related fatality accidents is despite an overall increase in fatalities.
shaunepec 5 months, 1 week ago
That accident occurred in 2013, and a whether alcohol was a contributing factor in that accident has not been determined/released. So, no.
Shaun LJW
oletimer 5 months ago
okay we have the alcohol related fatalities in check. now we need to work on distracted driving and all it's problems. That is the way bigger deal now days. good luck with that though.
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