Crash data from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office shows that the state average for crashes involving large trucks is 11.21 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (100m VMT). In Kingfisher County, that rate is four times higher, at more than 40 crashes per 100m VMT.

“The goal is to see a year-over-year reduction in the number and severity of crashes throughout the area,” said Director Paul Harris of the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.

This safety effort is not just being carried out by local and state officials. Representatives from various oil and natural gas companies have been a part of the conversation from the beginning.

“This notion of safety is really permeating the environment in Kingfisher and Blaine counties,” said Executive Director Mike Patterson of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

The safety corridor will be marked with new signage provided by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation starting Monday, Feb. 25. These signs are designed to make motorists more aware of potential dangers in the area including large, slow-moving trucks, and other turning vehicles. These signs will also remind drivers to buckle up and keep their attention on the road.

“Even with that heightened awareness, this education effort by state agencies in coordination with the energy companies is critical to improving highway safety for all in this area,” Patterson said. “We’re hopeful that the increased signage combined with increased enforcement efforts will make a difference and help save lives.”

During the peak hours of activity along the safety corridor, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and local law enforcement will be stepping up enforcement efforts. This will mean more troopers and law enforcement in the area to make sure everyone is driving safely.

“This is the first time in my almost 30 year career that I’ve seen a collaborative environment where the industry, law enforcement, first responders and educators are all working together,” said Rhoades.

Educating young drivers and the communities near the safety corridor will also be a focus of the Energize for Safety Coalition. Several school programs have been conducted and more are planned for the future to educate students on the dangers of risky behavior behind the wheel.

The website DriveSafeOK.com has been created to house all of the information about this safety corridor, and others in the future. The website contains maps, data, and resources as well as information about how the Energize for Safety Coalition was formed. Members of the media wanting more information or an interview may contact the following people for their individual agencies: Oklahoma Highway Safety Office – Cody McDonell, Cody.McDonell@dps.ok.gov Oklahoma Highway Patrol – Sarah Stewart, Sarah.Stewart@dps.ok.gov Oklahoma Department of Transportation – Lisa Shearer-Salim, Lsalim@odot.org Energize for Safety Coalition – Tom Robins, Tom.Robins@energizeforsafety.org

Click the image above for a link to the high-resolution version of the map.

Click the image above for an interactive look at all fatality, serious injury, and
non-serious injury crashes in Oklahoma for 2017.

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Established by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1967, the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office
works closely with local, state, and federal partners to combat the increase
in the number and severity of traffic crashes and fatalities.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office is a division of the

Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.