New law aims to improve safety in active construction, school zones

Construction season is in full swing, and there are some new changes that the Kansas Department of Transportation wants drivers to be aware of on Kansas roads this summer.

Senate Bill 366, which Governor Laura Kelly signed into law this spring, will go into effect on July 1. This law prohibits handheld mobile device use in active construction and school zones.

“Active” means in school zones when a reduced speed limit is enforced, and in construction zones while workers are present and signs are posted at the beginning of the road construction zone alerting drivers to such workers. Devices are still allowed to be used in hands-free mode. Removing the distraction of handheld devices in school and construction zones is an effort to improve safety in locations where vehicles and pedestrians or construction workers are brought into close contact with one another.

Law enforcement officers shall issue warning citations to anyone violating this law beginning July 1 and continuing until June 30, 2027, after which time traffic citations will be issued with a fine of $60.

Senate Bill 366 also allows construction and maintenance vehicles to display green lights in addition to the currently allowed amber and white lights. It also allows blue lights on stationary trailers in construction zones during the hours between sunset and sunrise and when workers are present in the highway work construction zone.