KDOT rides along with the Kansas Highway Patrol

KDOT took a ride with Master Trooper Neil Stanley on April 20 to teach others
about the importance of driving sober and to learn what its like to be a trooper. 

There is a popular saying that encourages others to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, so you can understand what their world is like.  Last Friday, we decided to trade in shoes for a Kansas Highway Patrol vehicle when we got a chance to experience a day in the life of a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper with Master Trooper Neil Stanley. 

Our goal was to ride along at the beginning of the drugged driving enforcement and tweet about our experiences as they happened. One of the biggest messages that Stanley hopes people will understand is impaired driving isn’t just limited to alcohol. He said if there is any substance being used that can impair your driving, it is something that could result in an arrest and have a license revoked.

While on the ride, Stanley explained how KHP officers rely on both their observation skills and radar technology to determine how fast drivers are going.  While a few of the stops were to enforce the speed limit, there were several instances where Stanley was able help stranded and lost drivers.

As we rode along, it was obvious that there is still a lot of work to be done when it comes to encouraging drivers to slow down and move over when emergency vehicles and highway crews are on the side of the road.

Graphic of a KHP vehicle crash last year.  Give them room. 

During a stop where Stanley was assisting a person towing a boat, vehicles whizzed by at high speeds. Stanley said he wants the public to understand that when you are going that fast you have less time to react if something unexpected happens. He gave an example of a highway worker who trips into the road. If someone is going faster than the speed limit, people can get hurt.  

While we didn’t encounter any drugged driving during our short ride, we had the opportunity to see and feel what it is like sitting in the front seat of a patrol vehicle. The life of law enforcement officers, emergency responders or highway workers can be challenging. They need to be ready for the unexpected at any moment.

The next time you are out on the road and you see a Highway Patrol Trooper don’t overreact, just drive normally, slow down and give them room to work. And if you ever get the chance, be sure to thank them for what they do. Just like highway workers, their job can be dangerous and at the end of the day they also want to see their loved ones.

KDOT and the KHP will ride together again next month, stay tuned on our twitter page: www.twitter.com/KDOTHQ