Kansas and Missouri DOTs partner on driver alert technology pilot program

Travelers in the metro areas of Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka and Salina areas will have another way to receive digital alerts with the driver technology alert pilot program. 

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has teamed up with its counterparts in Missouri to initiate a pilot program in four Kansas metropolitan areas that alerts drivers when motorist assist vehicles are nearby.

Drivers in Kansas City, Wichita, Salina and Topeka can receive digital alerts via the Waze mobile navigation app when they are approaching Kansas Motorist Assist Program vehicles or, in Missouri, the Emergency Response program vehicles that are actively providing roadside services.

A total of 19 Kansas vehicles and 12 Missouri vehicles are using the technology. The digital alerting service uses GPS and cellular technologies to precisely track and transmit the digital alerts to nearby motorists. This provides drivers with advance warning and time to safely slow down and change lanes in compliance with Kansas’ Move Over Law and Missouri’s Move Over, Slow Down law.

Collisions and struck-by incidents are common nationwide and rank as leading causes of death for firefighters and police offi­cers as well as other first responders like EMS, motorist assistance vehicles, tow truck operators and highway maintenance workers.

“We’re excited to adopt this technology to make our roads safer for both our emergency responders and highway motorists,” said Shari Hilliard, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Engineer for KDOT. “We believe this digital alerting service will prevent collisions and save lives, and we’re pleased to be partnering with Missouri offi­cials to pursue this goal together.”

The Kansas Motorist Assist Program is funded by KDOT and administered by the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Road construction and detour technology innovations

KDOT crew members from Garden City installed a temporary detour sign for the
U.S. 50/83 bypass project earlier this year. 

Road construction season is here and those orange barrels and cones seem to be popping up everywhere. While some may be frustrated by this season, road construction is essential to effectively and efficiently maintain our highways. Thanks to technology and innovation, today’s drivers can navigate road construction and detours much easier than drivers in the past. 

For example, 50 years ago when a driver encountered a detour, the driver had two options— follow the detour signs and most likely arrive late to their destination or get out the paper map and find an alternate route.  Eventually, road construction, detour routes and traffic updates became available on the radio and in the newspaper, making it easier for drivers to anticipate detours and delays and choose an alternate route if possible. 

Drivers today can access detour information in many ways, making it possible to avoid road construction and detours altogether. This makes it easier to prepare for and navigate road construction and detours when necessary.  Social media apps like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram give cities, counties and states the ability to communicate current information on road construction and detours to drivers with minimal delay, so that drivers can better plan their travel.

In addition, apps like Mapquest, Googlemaps and Waze provide a variety of tools including live traffic updates, road closure information and even alternate routes.

In metro areas, drivers will often find smart work zones that are designed to predict travel time and delays or speed through the construction zone in real time.  Alternate routes and travel times using those routes may also be predicted by allowing drivers to make informed decisions ahead of work zones. 

These smart zones help prevent driver frustration, encourage drivers to take alternate routes, reduce congestion and keep traffic flowing. They also help make work zones safer for both travelers and highway workers.

In addition, many state DOTs have their own websites and/or apps that provide detailed road construction and detour maps and current road conditions.  Kansas road conditions are available by visiting www.Kandrive.org. 

KDOT encourages drivers to take advantage of these and other technology and travel innovations. Remember to “know before you go,” in order to make travel as enjoyable and safe as possible during this road construction season.