Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has announced a federal grant to upgrade the crash data collection systems and develop ways to reduce traffic crashes and injuries.

The $2.69 million grant is from State Electronic Data Collection (SEDC) program funds awarded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  It will go to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Currently, KDOT’s system receives electronic reports from the Kansas Highway Patrol’s Kansas Law Enforcement Reporting System (KLER). However, nearly half of all crash data must be entered manually due to system incompatibilities with many local law enforcement agencies. The grant funding will enable the Kansas Crash Data System to be rebuilt and integrated with local systems statewide. The project also includes the distribution of 1,000 driver’s license scanners to law enforcement to encourage greater adoption of electronic reporting.  

Governor Kelly said in a press release, “This funding will modernize the crash data collection process by equipping decision-makers in local communities with better tools to guide transportation planning across Kansas.”