Lyon County deputies are asking drivers to take extra care while on rural roads.
Deputies say rural roads have the most fatal crashes in the state, which is notable considering rural roads only account for 40 percent of the total state miles traveled. Sheriff Jeff Cope also says the vast majority of local road crashes — nearly 86 percent — happen when the weather is good and the majority of wrecks happen in familiar territory.
Several factors, including speed, distracted driving, impaired driving and failure to use proper seat restraints all increase the severity of a crash. Given how dry it has been, Cope also says dust can be a contributor to a serious wreck.
Deputies are touting the Kansas Drive to Zero Coalition, supported by the Kansas Department of Transportation, as an information source on the benefits of seat belt or child safety restraint use, as well as the hazards of speeding and distracted or impaired driving. More information is available at kansasdrivetozero.com.
