The Kansas Senate has approved a bill that has received support from the Kansas Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies. This bill aims to expand the existing state law, which requires motorists to slow down or change lanes when passing police, fire, EMS, tow, or maintenance vehicles with flashing lights. The proposed legislation will now include all vehicles parked or stranded on the side of the road. This measure is intended to enhance the safety of those working on the roadside, and it has gained widespread support from various organizations. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)
Kansas Highway Patrol Captain Candice Breshears knows firsthand the risks involved in parking a patrol car on the side of a road, dangerously close to passing vehicles.
“I was hit by a semi,” she revealed. “I truly hope that such accidents can be prevented, not just for the sake of emergency vehicles, but also for the safety of all citizens in this state.”
According to Breshears, the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) is dedicated to supporting a bill in the Kansas Senate that aims to amend the current state law. This law requires drivers to either change lanes or reduce their speed significantly when passing emergency vehicles, such as police, fire, medical, tow, or road maintenance vehicles, that are stationed on the side of the road with flashing lights activated.
Senate Bill 142 proposes extending the safety requirement to all drivers who are stopped, stranded, or parked on the roadside and are using caution signals, road flares, orange cones, reflector triangles, or any other distress warning sign. If it is not possible to change lanes, the bill would mandate drivers to proceed with “due caution” in their current lane, taking into account the potential risk to the individuals inside or outside the stationary vehicle.
Violating the new standard will result in a $75 fine, which is the same penalty imposed on drivers who fail to safely pass an emergency vehicle. A second offense within five years will incur a fine of $750, and a third offense within that time frame will result in a $1,000 fine.
“Our troopers witness the daily dangers they face while working alongside a road,” Breshears stated. “Just a few feet, or sometimes even inches, can determine whether a traffic stop remains safe or results in severe injury or death.”
According to Joel Skelley, the director of policy for the Kansas Department of Transportation, there have been almost 700 traffic accidents involving stationary vehicles on the side of Kansas roads in the past four years. Tragically, these accidents resulted in the loss of thirteen lives.
The Kansas House received the bill after it was passed by the Senate in a 38-2 vote. Despite bipartisan support, an amendment proposed by Sen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, which aimed to repeal a 2023 statute permitting unmanned autonomous delivery trucks on Kansas roads, was rejected by a vote of 18-21. The amendment would have mandated the presence of a person in the cab of computer-driven box trucks.
According to Olson, he believes that the current technology is not advanced enough. He expresses regret over a decision made last year and emphasizes the importance of taking action now to prevent any further issues.
According to Sen. Tom Holland, a Democrat from Baldwin City, there are legitimate safety concerns surrounding autonomous vehicles. He expressed worry that the widespread implementation of driverless technology could result in the displacement of thousands of long-haul truck drivers from their jobs.
The Senate bill received endorsements from various organizations, including KDOT, AAA Kansas, Safe Kids Kansas, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Policy, Kansas Peace Officers Association, and Kansas Sheriffs Association. It is worth noting that no one presented testimony against the bill during the Senate Transportation Committee’s hearing in January.
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