(KNZA)--July 17 through 21 is proclaimed “Rural Road Safety Awareness Week,” in Kansas, with Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse in attendance as Governor Laura Kelly signed the proclamation.

Morse, in a release, says he was invited to attend Wednesday- ceremony at the State Capitol, in Topeka, due to “Jackson County being a primarily rural county,” which, in 2022, saw “a significant reduction in fatal crashes.”

Morse, in the release, says it- critical that all drivers do their part in making roads and highways safer, adding that “drivers need to avoid distractions when driving and follow the rules to prevent being the next statistic.”