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KDOT ‘Teams up’ with KSU, KU and WSU

Aug. 31, 2005 ( 05-185)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pete Bodyk or Chris Bortz, KDOT Bureau of Traffic Safety, (785) 296-3756

KDOT ‘Teams up’ with KSU, KU and WSU

Safety messages to reach sports fans on game day

The Kansas Department of Transportation has a new game plan to promote its safety message utilizing the broad appeal of collegiate athletics.

Kansas State University, the University of Kansas and Wichita State University will join forces to help KDOT advertise and promote its safety messages at some of the state’s successful college athletic programs. KSU football, both KU men’s and women’s basketball and WSU men’s basketball and baseball will serve as outlets used to reach thousands of sports fans at the games and through television and radio.

Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder, KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self and Wichita State men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon are a few of the coaches who will assist in the campaign. KDOT hopes that by using popular coaches at the three universities more people will pause to hear the safety messages and take them to heart.

Wearing your safety belts and never drinking and driving are important messages that will be stressed by the coaches to promote safety.

• “Far too many families are affected every day by impaired drivers,” said Snyder.
• “Seat belts save lives and it takes only a couple of seconds to click it,” said Self.
• “Even good drivers are involved in crashes, that’s why everyone should be prepared and buckle up every time they get in a vehicle,” said Turgeon.
  

“All of the coaches have eagerly demonstrated their commitment to safety,” said Pete Bodyk, Chief of KDOT’s Bureau of Traffic Safety. “Their contributions are part of the Kansas Safe Driving campaign to lower fatalities on our roadways.”

The Kansas Safe Driving campaign got under way this year as an effort of KDOT, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to raise awareness of the fatalities on the state’s roads.

Signing and public service announcements during the games and on video boards will promote safety messages. There will also be advertising on radio and television and other message opportunities throughout the games.

In 2004 there were 456 people killed in crashes on Kansas roadways. Sixty-six percent of people killed in traffic crashes weren’t wearing safety belts and 25 percent of fatalities were caused by drunk drivers.

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