The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s most recent Traffic Collison Facts reported 108,713 collisions on public roads in Kentucky, including 711 fatal accidents causing 762 deaths. Some 19,572 accidents caused injuries. If you live in Kentucky, you might wonder how your hometown ranks among dangerous cities to drive in.
Do you live in one of the most dangerous cities to drive in in Kentucky?
As you drive KY highways, it’s good to keep in mind where you are and the type of driving environment you may be in.
Kentucky Cities with Highest Number of Car Accidents
Here are KY cities with a high incidence of car accidents, according to accident reports compiled by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for 2022:
- Louisville (Jefferson County) is the most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and has the largest number of motor vehicles. In 2022, Louisville had 16,521 collisions, including 121 fatal accidents and 4,510 non-fatal injury accidents, leaving 127 people dead and 6,683 injured.
- Lexington (Fayette County) is located near the junction of heavily traveled Interstates 75 and 64, and five U.S. highways also pass through the city. Lexington had 11,604 collisions, including 35 fatal accidents and 1,640 non-fatal injury accidents, leaving 38 people dead and 2,345 injured.
- Bowling Green (Warren County) has Interstate 65 and an I-165 spur that extends from Bowling Green to Owensboro. Bowling Green had 4,414 collisions, including 14 fatal accidents and 681 non-fatal injury accidents, leaving 15 people killed and 978 injured.
Larger cities tend to have high-risk driving environments to accommodate the needs of the driving population. They include interstate highways with complex interchanges and divided-lane highways with higher speed limits. By contrast, moderate-risk driving environments tend to have lower speed limits and traffic-calming measures, such as more frequent stops or speed bumps to slow vehicles.
For example, Louisville, KY, is served by six U.S. highways and Interstates 64, 65, and 71, which meet at an interchange in the city’s center. At least one report ranks Louisville among the nation’s most dangerous cities to drive in. It blames the city’s high number of accidents on excessive speeding, a lack of stringent traffic regulations, and insufficient public transportation options, which leads to roadways that are crowded and clogged.
How To Protect Yourself on High-Risk Kentucky Roads
Here are some safe driving tips from the National Safety Council:
- Drive distraction-free. Put your phone away and focus of the task of driving.
- Slow down. Speeding is a factor in more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities. Drive the speed limit and obey all traffic laws.
- Avoid impaired driving. Never drive after drinking or using drugs. Designate a sober driver or get an Uber, Lyft, taxi, or other alternative transportation. Remember that drowsy driving is impaired driving. Make sure you’re alert whenever you get behind the wheel.
- Buckle up. Wearing a seat belt is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash, the NHTSA says.
- Watch for other road users. Stay alert for motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other drivers. Respect their right to use public roadways, but watch out for their nmistakes, which could impact you.
The Kentucky’s Office of Highway Safety’s safe driving tips, include reducing aggressive driving, distracted driving, impaired driving, and taking advantage of occupant protection such as seatbelts and child safety seats.
“Sharing the road with other drivers means a lot is beyond our control, but one thing we can each decide is to make the safe choice to buckle up every time,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a recent news release. “Seat belt use and responsible driving practices for drivers and passengers can be the difference between life and death.”
Get Kentucky Car Accident Legal Help
While you may follow Kentucky traffic laws and drive defensively, another driver can cause a car accident that involves you. When you’ve been hurt in a car accident someone else has caused, you may have a right to seek compensation for your losses. An experienced Kentucky Courage car accident attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your injury claim. Talk to a knowledgeable lawyer about your rights if you’ve been injured in a crash and the other driver’s insurance company disputes your claim or if it’s unclear who’s at fault.
Call a Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer car accident lawyer at (877) 809-5352 to set up your free consultation if a Kentucky car crash has left you or a loved one injured.
