The Energize for Safety Coalition announced last week that the 25-mile S.H. 33 safety corridor between Kingfisher and Watonga starts Monday.

Energize for Safety is a public-private partnership that includes representatives from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, local energy companies and law enforcement.

“The designation and success of the highway safety corridor is a collaborative effort of the industry, state agencies, law enforcement, non-profit and community leaders all who believe that we can drive safely together,” Tom Robins, coalition founder and president, said.

“Members of the Energize for Safety Coalition believe that in Oklahoma, communities where energy is developed and transported, everyone plays a role in safety,” he said.

“Many members of the oil and gas industry not only work in this area but live in those communities as well. They have a vested interest in joining other stakeholders to focus on putting the resources in the area and making sure we’re all working together to keep it safe,” DPS Commissioner Rusty Rhoades said.

The focus of the safety corridor will be to reduce the rate and severity level of the crashes along this 25-mile stretch of S.H. 33.

This area, along with others in Kingfisher and Blaine counties, has the highest rate of fatal crashes involving large trucks in Oklahoma.

“It takes hundreds of yards for an 8,000-pound semi going the speed limit to stop,” Rhoades said.  

“This is an opportunity to educate other drivers about how these large trucks operate.”

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.

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,” Director Paul Harris of the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office said.

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 ODOT starting Monday.

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, OHP 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,” Rhoades said.

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 Drive-SafeOK.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.