This road is Kansas’ deadliest state route, report says. It averages 5 deaths a year

A road that traverses all of Kansas from north to south is the state’s deadliest route, one ranking says.

The study done by the Texas-based Barber Law Firm found that State Route 15 (K-15) had the most fatalities, averaging five per year. K-15 breaks off of I-35 in Wichita and goes into Derby.

The ranking was done by analyzing fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Researchers used the data from 2018 through 2022.

Roadways that reported less than 10 fatal crashes over the last five years were excluded from the study. Interstates and US highways were not included in the study, just state routes.

Meanwhile, Kansas’ longest state highway, State Route 4, ranked second highest with an annual average of 3.8 fatalities, and State Route 32, which goes from Lawrence into the Kansas City area, ranked third with three.

State Route 156 saw 2.8 deaths on average, while State Route 7 had a 2.6 average.

Tips for staying safe while driving this summer

The stretch from Memorial Day to Labor Day is known as the “100 deadliest days” on U.S. roads because of the uptick of deadly wrecks involving teen drivers.

“Traffic crashes remain one of the leading causes of death for U.S teens between the ages of 16 and 19,” Shawn Steward, public and government affairs manager for AAA Kansas, said in a late May press release.

“Teens often have a lot of unstructured time in the summer, but don’t have the experience and skills of older drivers. Those factors can often lead to deadly consequences on the road.”

According to AAA, 22% of fatal teen crashes involve alcohol, 50% of teens who die in a car accident did not wear a seat belt and 30% of all teen wrecks that had a fatality were speed-related.

Parents should have talks with their teen drivers about the best safety practices, AAA recommends.

Experienced drivers should also make sure they’re using best practices behind the wheel, especially when they are driving long distances.

Here are some tips for staying safe behind the wheel during longer trips, from DriversEd.com:

1. Plan your route ahead of time.
2. Have scheduled breaks.
3. Bring snacks in the car that will keep you energized.
4. Listen to music or podcasts to stay entertained and engaged.
5. Bring a roadside emergency kit just in case.
6. Share your location and ETA with someone you trust.

This story was originally published June 18, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "This road is Kansas’ deadliest state route, report says. It averages 5 deaths a year."

Lindsay Smith

The Wichita Eagle

Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.