A New Year Isn't Worth Dying For

The countdown begins as the New Year quickly approaches. Although celebrating the end of 2015 and welcoming 2016 can be fun, it is not worth dying for.

Did you know that New Year’s Day is the second deadliest day for drivers? Fact: According to statistics, New Year’s Day had an average of 140 deaths in 2013 and that number is expected to climb according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

The NHTSA also found that over the past decade, almost two of every five, or 41 percent of deaths that occur around the New Year’s holiday were caused by alcohol-impaired drivers. Additionally, during last year’s holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, 830 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes, meaning one person was killed every half-hour due to drunk driving. These statistics are sobering, and could be eliminated if people just didn’t drink and drive!

Other facts pertaining to drinking and driving according to the NHTSA:  

• One person is killed every half-hour due to drunk driving
• Each year approximately 16,000 are killed in alcohol related crashes 
• Alcohol is a factor in almost half of all traffic fatalities
• Every other minute a person is seriously injured in an alcohol related crash
• In 2014, there were 9,967 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving a driver with a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher; this was 31 percent of total traffic fatalities for the year 
• In 2014, the 21- to 24-year-old age group had the highest percentage of drivers with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher (30%) in fatal crashes
• Among the 9,967 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2014, 69 percent (6,852) were in crashes in which at least one driver in the crash had a BAC of .15 g/dL or higher. This is twice the legal limit!

 Although these statistics are alarming, the good news is that alcohol-related car accidents and fatalities have been declining across the nation for years. This is in large part due to the publicity surrounding drunken driving fatalities. New data shows a 1.1 percent decline in drunk driving deaths in 2014. Unfortunately, in December 2014, 788 lives were lost due to drunk driving – one death every 57 minutes.

The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that 40 percent of traffic-related deaths during Christmas and New Year's involve drunk drivers -- a 12 percent increase over the rest of the month of December.

As part of the education during the holiday season, the NHTSA kicked-off its “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. In fact, they used the new Star Wars: the Force Awakens release as an opportunity to share the important campaign message. Thousands of theaters across the nation will prominently feature the new NHTSA ad, the Man in the Mirror  or the Woman in the Mirror, immediately prior to the start of the Star Wars movie. 

 “We hope the millions of Americans who will be on the road over the holidays will make the safe choice not to drink and drive,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Across the country, local law enforcement officers will be on the roads, protecting all of us from the risk of drunk driving.”

 If you  are planning a New Year’s celebration home or away, remember to always designate a driver, call a cab, and NEVER drink and drive! The New Year is not worth dying for. 

Tricky Weather Keeps Crews Busy

Rain, sleet, freezing rain, and snow are typical weather patterns across the region. But mix them up together in one crazy storm, and crews are faced with some tricky situations on the roads.

As the rain began to fall, and temperatures soon followed, the KC District answered with full staffing levels at each maintenance building and activating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Sunday. Trucks were prepared to treat the roads as needed, focusing efforts on bridges and elevated surfaces. As precipitation turned to snow and freezing rain in some locations, crews turned that focus onto the main roadways to keep road conditions as safe as possible.

In addition to fighting a variety of wintry weather mix, several areas are faced with road closures due to flooding from excessive rainfall. Governor Nixon declared Missouri a state of emergency due to heavy rain, flooding and flash flooding continue to impact much of the state. 

“Widespread flooding and continued rainfall are causing very dangerous conditions across much of central and southern Missouri,” said Gov. Nixon. “Multiple fatalities due to flash flooding have already been reported, and I urge Missourians in flood-affected areas to stay alert, avoid travel if possible and never drive into a flooded roadway. With more heavy rain expected tonight and tomorrow, state emergency management personnel will be working around the clock to keep Missourians safe.”

Keeping an eye on the Traffic Information Map will keep motorists informed about the latest road conditions, from flooding to snow or ice covered roads. Crews will continue to treat roads as needed and monitor the situation as more rain and freezing temperatures move across the region.  

And the Winners Are...

During the Annual Holiday Lunch last week, the EAF committee and KC Scout hosted some fun games. Many employees took time to join in the Santa's Workshop challenge, a fun holiday relay race, and a guess the number of snowballs contest. 

The results are in and include the following winners:

Santa’s Workshop Contest Winners:

1^st Place:

       Mike Lanvik & Randy Johnson “The Bum Drum”

2^nd Place: 

       Kerri Lewis & Michele Compton “Snarky Sue Doll”  

3^rd Place: 

       Nick Lewandowski “Doll-e”

“Fill It/Wrap It/Toss It” Holiday Relay Race Winner:

Juan Yin

“Count the Number of Snowballs” in the Jar contest Winner:

Melissa Black with a guess of 433. Actual amount was 447 snowballs in the jar. 

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's holiday events. 

Upcoming Blood Drive set for MoDOT KC District

MoDOT teammates, please be sure to save the date for the next blood drive. 

It's scheduled for Wednesday, March 9, 2016. It's set for 7 a.m. to noon in room 136 of the KC District Office. 

We all know donating blood is important because it saves lives. Each blood donation can help as many as three people. Donations are needed for emergency situations as well as those who need it for long-term health issues. 

According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in American needs a blood transfusion. 

Blood can not be manufactured, it must come from volunteer donors like you! 

In order to donate, you must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in reasonably good health. 


For more information, contact Lori Bronson in the KC Regional Counsel's Office: 816-607-2083. 

Sherri McGregor Says Goodbye

It was a bitter sweet event when MoDOT staff said goodbye to Support Services Manager Sherri McGregor after 27 years with the department. McGregor joined the KC District four-and-a-half years ago. Prior to KC, she spent several years in the former District 3 and retired on December 17.

Several KC District employees, some from the Northeast District and several retirees stopped by the event to wish her well. Stories were shared, and a special plaque was presented. McGregor's husband Roger, her kids and her sister also came to share in the event.

In a surprise turn of events, District Engineer Dan Niec and MoDOT Director McKenna presented McGregor a plaque during the director's morning visit to the KC District that same day.

New MoDOT Director Stops by the District Office

During a brief morning visit to the Kansas City District, new MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna took time out of his busy schedule to do a meet and greet with several of the district's employees. 

"I have not been to the Kansas City area before this week, and I have really enjoyed it here," said McKenna. 

During a question and answer session with employees, the new director discussed his plans for MoDOT now and in the future. He intends to focus on the need for funding, and expressed the importance for focusing on all forms of transportation across the state. 

For example, Missouri has a unique opportunity, having multiple port authorities available for the movement of goods in and out of the state. This brings with it hundreds of jobs and Missouri businesses a logistical advantage over other states. Using waterways is often the lowest cost method of transportation.
 
McKenna also addressed alternative funding mechanisms that could be available to Missouri, addressing the issues with I-70 and the need to connect the interstate system, and discussed the importance of the aging infrastructure as a whole. 

McKenna and his family currently resides in New Hampshire but plans on relocating permanently to Missouri during the summer of 2016. 

Holiday Lunch 2015 Gift Giving (Photo Gallery)

Holiday Lunch 2015 Toy Making Contest (Photo Gallery)