The Kansas Senate has recently approved a bill that has received support from the Kansas Highway Patrol and other law enforcement organizations. This bill aims to extend the existing state law, which requires motorists to pull over one lane or reduce their speed when passing police, fire, EMS, tow, or maintenance vehicles with flashing lights. The extension would now include all vehicles parked or stranded on the side of the road. This move is intended to enhance the safety of those working on the roadside. According to Sherman Smith from the Kansas Reflector, this bill has successfully passed in the Kansas Senate.
Kansas Highway Patrol Capt. Candice Breshears knows firsthand the risks associated with parking a cruiser on the side of a road, dangerously close to passing car and truck traffic.
She expressed her concern, saying, “I was hit by a semi. It would be unfortunate to see this happen not only to emergency vehicles but also to the citizens of this state.”
According to Breshears, KHP is dedicated to supporting a Kansas Senate bill that aims to amend the current state law. This law mandates motorists to either change lanes or reduce their speed significantly when passing by emergency vehicles, such as police, fire, medical, tow or road maintenance vehicles, that are stopped on the side of the road with their flashing lights on.
Senate Bill 142 aims to enforce safety measures for 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 warning sign of distress. In cases where it is not possible to change lanes, the bill requires drivers to exercise “due caution” in their lane, taking into account the potential risk to the safety of individuals inside or outside a stopped vehicle.
If someone fails to comply with the new standard, they will face a fine of $75, which is the same penalty imposed on drivers who fail to safely pass an emergency vehicle. If a person commits a second offense within five years, the fine increases to $750, and for a third offense within that same timeframe, the fine jumps to $1,000.
“Our troopers experience the constant danger they face while working on the side of a road,” Breshears stated. “The difference between a safe traffic stop and a life-threatening situation can often come down to mere feet or even inches.”
According to Joel Skelley, the director of policy for the Kansas Department of Transportation, over the past four years, nearly 700 traffic accidents have occurred involving stationary vehicles on the side of Kansas roads. Tragically, these accidents have resulted in the loss of thirteen lives.
The Kansas House received the bill with a decisive vote of 38-2 from the Senate. Despite bipartisan support, an amendment proposed by Sen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, to repeal the 2023 statute allowing unmanned autonomous delivery trucks on Kansas roads was rejected. The amendment, which would have mandated a human presence in the cab of computer-driven box trucks, was defeated 18-21.
According to Olson, he believes that the current technology is not yet at the level it needs to be. In his opinion, the decision made last year was a mistake, and there is a chance to prevent it from moving forward.
According to Senator Tom Holland, a Democrat from Baldwin City, there are legitimate safety concerns regarding autonomous vehicles. He expressed his concerns about the potential impact on the job market, particularly for long-haul truck drivers, if driverless technology becomes more prevalent.
The Senate bill received endorsements from KDOT, AAA Kansas, Safe Kids Kansas, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Policy, Kansas Peace Officers Association, and Kansas Sheriffs Association. During the Senate Transportation Committee’s hearing in January, no one testified against the bill.
The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) have expressed their appreciation for the Senate bill that seeks to expand the “move-over” law to include all vehicles on Kansas roads. According to the Kansas Reflector, the proposed legislation aims to enhance the safety of road workers, emergency personnel, and motorists by requiring drivers to change lanes or slow down when approaching any stopped vehicle on the side of the road. The KHP and KDOT view this bill as a positive step towards protecting the well-being of all individuals on Kansas roads.
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