PRESS RELEASE:
After months of study, a task force has come up with solutions to reduce crashes in the most accident-prone area of Kansas City.
The Reducing Accidents on Highway 152 Task Force looked at the area of the 152 Corridor from Flintlock Road to Highway 291. Last year, two intersections in this corridor ranked No. 1 (152 and N. Flintlock) and No. 3 (152 and N. Church Road) in the top five crash locations in Kansas City.
The task force, convened by Kansas City Police, included police and city leaders from Kansas City and Liberty, the Liberty School District (school buses travel the corridor 100 times daily), business representatives, the Missouri Department of Transportation and concerned citizens.
“We needed to get the stakeholders in the places affected by this together at one table to identify the problem and look at solutions from every angle,” said Major Rich Lockhart of the Shoal Creek Patrol Division.
Liberty City Councilman Jeff Watt said the work of the task force benefits both Liberty and Kansas City by highlighting the issues faced by drivers in the northeast part of the Kansas City metro area.
“With over 60,000 people living on either side of the highway, everyone benefits in these efforts,” Watt said.
The task force began meeting in March 2011 and learned more than 30,000 vehicles travel the corridor every day. From Jan. 1, 2010, to March 15, 2011, 88 crashes occurred just in the area of N. Flintlock and N. Church. Twenty-five of those crashes involved injuries, and 62 were rear-end collisions.
The report states the solution that will have the greatest effect is the “Flintlock Flyover.” This flyover would take at least 7,500 cars a day from the 152 corridor by diverting traffic from Highway 152 and Flintlock south and crossing over Interstate 35, connecting on the east-side of I-35 near Pleasant Valley Road.
Kansas City Councilman Scott Wagner said the flyover idea had been around before, but it’s received new momentum with the task force’s work.
“MoDOT, Liberty and Kansas City are working together to get that done,” Wagner said. “The task force brought forward why it was needed in the first place and reinforced the reason to move forward.”
Other solutions the task force identified include improvements to the I-35 overpass, improvements to the Highway 291/I-35 interchange, reducing the speed limit on eastbound 152 at Shoal Creek Parkway, rumble strips and more. Click to see the entire report.
Showing posts with label accident statistics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accident statistics. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, March 1, 2010
Kansas City's top 20 crash sites of 2009
Last week, our Board of Police Commissioners was presented with Kansas City's 2009 traffic statistics. A particularly interesting one was the top crash locations of the year. They're spread out across the city (and remember, these are only for Kansas City, Mo., proper), but I-435 & I-70 was the clear leader. Please use extra caution when you're in one of the areas mentioned below:
LOCATION | TOTAL CRASHES |
1. I-435 & I-70 | 107 |
2. I-435 & Front St. | 75 |
3. I-29 & Barry Road | 64 |
4. 75th St. & 71 Highway | 63 |
5. 5th St. & Broadway | 61 |
6. Gregory & 71 Highway | 59 |
7. 152 Highway & Flintlock | 56 |
8. I-435 & Holmes | 56 |
9. I-435 & 23rd St. | 56 |
10. 55th St. & 71 Highway | 55 |
11. Bannister Rd. & 71 Hwy | 53 |
12. I-435 & Wornall | 50 |
13. 71 Hwy & Red Bridge Rd. | 47 |
14. I-35 & Front Street | 47 |
15. I-435 & 87th St. | 46 |
16. I-470 & Blue Ridge | 46 |
17. 155th St. & 71 Highway | 46 |
18. I-35 & I-70 | 42 |
19. I-435 & 71 Highway | 40 |
20. I-435 & Bannister Rd. | 39 |
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Bad weather led to many more car crashes
Suspecting that bad weather has led to more car crashes this month, we’ve run the numbers and discovered that crashes were up 12 percent from Jan. 1, 2010, to today, compared to the same time period last month (Dec. 1-12, 2009) in Kansas City, Mo.
Non-injury car crashes saw a 26 percent increase, from 557 in the first 12 days of December to 703 in the first 12 days of January (and Jan. 12 isn’t over yet). There actually were 16 fewer injury accidents in January compared to December. One of the few bright spots of slick roadways are that they make drivers slow down, and while this may not prevent a wreck, it will help prevent injuries. When roads are bad, police usually see an increase in non-injury wrecks and a decrease in injury ones. Fortunately, no fatality crashes took place in the first 12 days of December 2009 or January 2010.
One of the most disheartening statistics in this report was the number of hit-and-run cases. From Dec. 1-12, hit-and-run drivers were involved in 155 wrecks, two of which involved a pedestrian being struck. So far this month, we’ve seen 128 hit-and-run crashes, including one involving a pedestrian. We know that the recent weather has made roads slick, but if you hit another vehicle – even if it was an accident – you are required by law to do the right thing by stopping and contacting the driver of the other vehicle (or the vehicle’s owner in the case of a parked car). All hit-and-run cases are followed up and investigated by detectives, and if they find that you struck a vehicle and didn’t take responsibility for it, you’ll face far worse consequences than if you’d simply stopped and exchanged information. And if you hit a person, you must stop and call 911 immediately.
As the temperatures warm and the snow melts, I hope to see these crash numbers go down. But in the meantime, please be careful.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Non-injury car crashes saw a 26 percent increase, from 557 in the first 12 days of December to 703 in the first 12 days of January (and Jan. 12 isn’t over yet). There actually were 16 fewer injury accidents in January compared to December. One of the few bright spots of slick roadways are that they make drivers slow down, and while this may not prevent a wreck, it will help prevent injuries. When roads are bad, police usually see an increase in non-injury wrecks and a decrease in injury ones. Fortunately, no fatality crashes took place in the first 12 days of December 2009 or January 2010.
One of the most disheartening statistics in this report was the number of hit-and-run cases. From Dec. 1-12, hit-and-run drivers were involved in 155 wrecks, two of which involved a pedestrian being struck. So far this month, we’ve seen 128 hit-and-run crashes, including one involving a pedestrian. We know that the recent weather has made roads slick, but if you hit another vehicle – even if it was an accident – you are required by law to do the right thing by stopping and contacting the driver of the other vehicle (or the vehicle’s owner in the case of a parked car). All hit-and-run cases are followed up and investigated by detectives, and if they find that you struck a vehicle and didn’t take responsibility for it, you’ll face far worse consequences than if you’d simply stopped and exchanged information. And if you hit a person, you must stop and call 911 immediately.
As the temperatures warm and the snow melts, I hope to see these crash numbers go down. But in the meantime, please be careful.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Highlights from yesterday's Board of Police Commissioners meeting
Highlights of the Dec. 22, 2009, Board of Police Commissioners Meeting:
• Capt. Rich Lockhart presented the department’s new web site, which will go live Jan. 4, 2010.
• Deputy Chief Cy Ritter reported that there have been 64 traffic fatalities in Kansas City this year compared to 58 at this date in 2008. He noted two disturbing trends:
- The number of passengers in vehicles killed this year is up 80 percent from last year.
- Motorcycle fatalities have increased 63 percent over 2008.
• As of Monday, Dec. 21, D.C. Ritter said police had eliminated the backlog of red light camera violations waiting to be reviewed. At one time, thousands were in queue. Four officers were pulled out of the Traffic Enforcement Unit to review the violations full time. Now that they’re caught up, residents who got violations from the cameras should receive their tickets in the mail much more quickly.
• After nearly two years of work to report crime statistics more accurately, Major Christine Laughlin announced that the State of Missouri has certified KCPD as NIBRS (National Incident-Based Reporting System) Compliant. Kansas City is the first large city in Missouri to achieve this certification. The State has reviewed the department’s last three months of data in the new system and declared it 100 percent accurate.
• Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple explained the work of a recent committee to reassign civilians to fill critical positions like 911 calltakers, report input control and station desk clerks left vacant by a hiring freeze. She said no one took a pay cut or lost their job, but several civilians were transferred, and others will have to take on the duties of two jobs.
• Deputy Chief Darryl Forte said that the department continues to negotiate with the City and Jackson County regarding a regional jail. He said the space in which the entities would like KCPD to move their detention operations lacks the square footage for four interrogation rooms. He said that was a requirement that is not negotiable for the department. KCPD also has yet to be quoted a price on leasing the space, he said. D.C. Forte said the space would only be a temporary location as part of a five-year plan to develop a new, regional jail, and commissioners questioned why the department would put in so much work and money to move detention operations to a short-term location. Chief James Corwin said if detention moves out of Police Headquarters, they need to go to a place that is designed to handle the scope of the operation. The KCPD Detention Unit books and processes 40,000 inmates annually.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
• Capt. Rich Lockhart presented the department’s new web site, which will go live Jan. 4, 2010.
• Deputy Chief Cy Ritter reported that there have been 64 traffic fatalities in Kansas City this year compared to 58 at this date in 2008. He noted two disturbing trends:
- The number of passengers in vehicles killed this year is up 80 percent from last year.
- Motorcycle fatalities have increased 63 percent over 2008.
• As of Monday, Dec. 21, D.C. Ritter said police had eliminated the backlog of red light camera violations waiting to be reviewed. At one time, thousands were in queue. Four officers were pulled out of the Traffic Enforcement Unit to review the violations full time. Now that they’re caught up, residents who got violations from the cameras should receive their tickets in the mail much more quickly.
• After nearly two years of work to report crime statistics more accurately, Major Christine Laughlin announced that the State of Missouri has certified KCPD as NIBRS (National Incident-Based Reporting System) Compliant. Kansas City is the first large city in Missouri to achieve this certification. The State has reviewed the department’s last three months of data in the new system and declared it 100 percent accurate.
• Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple explained the work of a recent committee to reassign civilians to fill critical positions like 911 calltakers, report input control and station desk clerks left vacant by a hiring freeze. She said no one took a pay cut or lost their job, but several civilians were transferred, and others will have to take on the duties of two jobs.
• Deputy Chief Darryl Forte said that the department continues to negotiate with the City and Jackson County regarding a regional jail. He said the space in which the entities would like KCPD to move their detention operations lacks the square footage for four interrogation rooms. He said that was a requirement that is not negotiable for the department. KCPD also has yet to be quoted a price on leasing the space, he said. D.C. Forte said the space would only be a temporary location as part of a five-year plan to develop a new, regional jail, and commissioners questioned why the department would put in so much work and money to move detention operations to a short-term location. Chief James Corwin said if detention moves out of Police Headquarters, they need to go to a place that is designed to handle the scope of the operation. The KCPD Detention Unit books and processes 40,000 inmates annually.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Kansas City Police release audits on car crashes, use of grant overtime funds
PRESS RELEASE:
Preventable car crashes cost KCPD more than $362,000 in 2008, internal auditors found, so commanders are recommending all patrol officers and any department member who gets in a preventable crash take driver’s training.
The Department’s Internal Audit Unit today released an audit on preventable car crashes and a follow-up audit on how the department uses overtime money allotted in traffic grants.
The Preventable Vehicular Accident Post-Audit showed KCPD had 149 preventable crashes in 2008 involving 131 police department members, which is an increase of 33 crashes over 2007. The crashes cost the department $362,681, which is $73,000 more than in 2007. Those who have worked at the department for six or fewer years were responsible for 55 percent of crashes. In November 2008, the Police Academy implemented a Driver’s Training Section dedicated to reducing these numbers. As of August 2009, 118 department members and 100 police recruits have gone through the training. After reviewing the audit, police commanders have recommended that all patrol officers take the 32-hour course, as should any other department member who is involved in a preventable car crash.
The Special Operations Division Grant Overtime Post Audit followed up on a January 2007 internal audit that recommended better tracking of hours for federal grant traffic programs that fund specific traffic projects. Those grants are: Hazardous Moving Grant, Multiple Offender Grant, Occupant Protection Grant, Speed Enforcement on I-435 Grant, Speed Enforcement on I-70 Grant, Sobriety Checkpoint Grant and Youth Alcohol Grant. The Post Audit found officers adopted all of the original audit’s recommendations, and they are accurately tracking the hours spent on these projects.
Click here to see the full Preventable Vehicular Audit.
Click here to see the SOD Grant Overtime Post Audit.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.
Preventable car crashes cost KCPD more than $362,000 in 2008, internal auditors found, so commanders are recommending all patrol officers and any department member who gets in a preventable crash take driver’s training.
The Department’s Internal Audit Unit today released an audit on preventable car crashes and a follow-up audit on how the department uses overtime money allotted in traffic grants.
The Preventable Vehicular Accident Post-Audit showed KCPD had 149 preventable crashes in 2008 involving 131 police department members, which is an increase of 33 crashes over 2007. The crashes cost the department $362,681, which is $73,000 more than in 2007. Those who have worked at the department for six or fewer years were responsible for 55 percent of crashes. In November 2008, the Police Academy implemented a Driver’s Training Section dedicated to reducing these numbers. As of August 2009, 118 department members and 100 police recruits have gone through the training. After reviewing the audit, police commanders have recommended that all patrol officers take the 32-hour course, as should any other department member who is involved in a preventable car crash.
The Special Operations Division Grant Overtime Post Audit followed up on a January 2007 internal audit that recommended better tracking of hours for federal grant traffic programs that fund specific traffic projects. Those grants are: Hazardous Moving Grant, Multiple Offender Grant, Occupant Protection Grant, Speed Enforcement on I-435 Grant, Speed Enforcement on I-70 Grant, Sobriety Checkpoint Grant and Youth Alcohol Grant. The Post Audit found officers adopted all of the original audit’s recommendations, and they are accurately tracking the hours spent on these projects.
Click here to see the full Preventable Vehicular Audit.
Click here to see the SOD Grant Overtime Post Audit.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A rough morning commute
The weather certainly made this morning a rough drive to work for many people around Kansas City. Consider these numbers:
Speaking of, during road conditions like this, if you get into an accident and your car is driveable and you can safely exit the scene, please exchange information with the other car's driver and walk the report in to the nearest police station. As you can see, police were very busy this morning responding to 46 crashes in a two-hour period, and the more of them we can keep available to assist in serious emergencies, the better.
Please be careful out there.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
- From 7 to 9 a.m. today, Dec. 9, we had 43 non-injury car crashes and 3 injury crashes.
- Compare that to yesterday, when from 7 to 9 a.m. we had just 13 non-injury crashes and 3 injury crashes.
Speaking of, during road conditions like this, if you get into an accident and your car is driveable and you can safely exit the scene, please exchange information with the other car's driver and walk the report in to the nearest police station. As you can see, police were very busy this morning responding to 46 crashes in a two-hour period, and the more of them we can keep available to assist in serious emergencies, the better.
Please be careful out there.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
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