Safety training highlights pedestrian awareness in the region

Sep 16, 2025
| Posted in
Transportation
Man walks across crosswalk to test compliance of drivers for pedestrian safety on Westport Rd and Genesee Street

Destination Safe partnered with SafeAcross on a crosswalk compliance study.

Transportation safety advocates gathered for a pedestrian-focused training session hosted by Destination Safe in partnership with SafeAcross, aiming to improve crosswalk compliance and foster safer streets.

The training introduced participants to SafeAcross’s pedestrian safety initiative, which encourages drivers to yield at crosswalks and promotes pedestrian-friendly community design. Attendees also conducted field studies near the University of Kansas Health System, observing driver behavior and pedestrian comfort levels at marked crossings.

Presenters included Mandy Buettgen, SafeAcross program manager and traffic safety engineer for Springfield, Missouri; Kevin Kroll, project consultant with Toole Design; and Cara Elbert, public engagement consultant with Shockey Consulting Services.

Group of people training inside room at KU Medical Center on the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
Group of people training inside room at KU Medical Center on the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan

Destination Safe, a coalition of local, regional, state and federal agencies, law enforcement, emergency responders and nonprofits, partnered with SafeAcross to strengthen collaborative efforts in transportation safety. The event underscored the importance of multiagency coordination in reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities.

The Mid-America Regional Council is currently developing a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, a regional strategy to identify safety concerns and implement solutions. Officials say partnerships like this training session are key to building a unified culture of safety across the region. 

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