Kentucky drivers, your generally good manners reflect well on you.
A recent study performed by the online insurance comparison website Insurify found that Kentucky has the most polite drivers in the nation. Out of 1,000 drivers, only 9.9 received a citation for one of the traffic offenses categorized as a “rude” infraction, giving Kentucky the lowest proportion of rude motorists. The national average for rude infractions is 29.6 citations per 1,000 drivers.
The rankings relied on traffic infraction data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The traffic violations studied and ranked in the U.S.
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Failure to yield to pedestrians
- Tailgating
- Improper backing
- Illegal passing
- Street racing
- Running red lights
- Failing to stop after causing a crash/hit-and-run
Failing to stop for a red light is the most common offense committed by rude drivers.
Kentucky Driver Infraction Patterns
When it comes to violations for not yielding the right of way or tailgating violations, for example, Kentucky was 79.4% and 75.4% lower than the national average, respectively. In other words, Kentucky drivers, to their credit, yielded and avoided tailgating more often than their counterparts in other states. The rate of hit and runs in Kentucky is 62.6% lower than the national average and quite low compared to many states.
By comparison, one of Kentucky’s neighbors, Virginia, is home to the rudest or least law-abiding drivers, according to Insurify.
Insurify’s study suggested a willingness for motorists in Kentucky to pay attention to drivers around them and behave respectfully. Insurify concluded that driver obedience to traffic rules was higher in Kentucky than in any other state.
This is consistent with earlier findings. Louisville and Lexington motorists previously received recognition in a separate study as the second-best and tenth-best drivers out of the 75 most populous cities in the country. The safety precautions that Kentucky drivers take are one of the reasons they made it to the top of the list. In general, Kentuckians tend to be courteous, especially when they’re sharing the road with other vehicles.
Driving Etiquette
In day-to-day driving, there’s a certain level of basic road etiquette required by motorists. When they don’t follow the rules of the road, accidents happen.
When motorists are driving to work, school, or to run errands, they often feel stressed by daily responsibilities. They may be running late or rushing to complete errands before their dinner plans with friends or family. Whatever the reason, many drivers take out their frustrations on strangers in other vehicles.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 80% of all motorists in the country admitted to at least one incident of road rage within a one-year time frame.
Despite traffic laws, rude drivers engage in risky behind-the-wheel behavior. They are impatient, angry, and rushing to get to where they need to go. In a situation where people should operate vehicles respectfully, they instead choose to drive recklessly.
They run red lights, make illegal turns, follow too closely, pass in no-passing zones and fail to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. Their irresponsible behavior can have devastating consequences.
Police officers do what they can to enforce the rules of the road, but the reality is accidents still happen. Despite writing tickets, law enforcement officers cannot prevent rude drivers from creating dangerous situations that put others at risk and lead to accidents.
All drivers should be aware of their obligation to try to avoid traffic crashes. Each driver in the Commonwealth has a legal responsibility to drive with reasonable care.
It’s essential to pay attention to your surroundings and remain alert for sudden changes in traffic conditions to anticipate potentially dangerous situations. While Kentucky drivers are generally most polite, that doesn’t mean that aggressive drivers and rude drivers are non-existent in the Commonwealth. Every city and state has some rude and dangerous drivers. It only takes one irresponsible driver to cause a serious accident.
Some motorists disregard Kentucky road signs and what they mean, traffic signs other rules of the road. Some drivers disregard the requirement to keep a safe distance from the car in front or watch out for pedestrians crossing the road. Even if you know you have the right of way, it’s important to check the motorists around you to ensure they have stopped before you proceed. You should remain cautious and drive defensively at all times.
It can be difficult to keep your emotions in check when another driver is operating a vehicle aggressively. But it’s important to keep your composure and not make the situation worse by losing your cool.
A driver who acts negligently and causes an accident may be liable for injuries to others.
Kentucky Auto Accident Attorneys
If you or your loved one has sustained any injuries in an auto accident in Kentucky, contact the personal injury lawyers at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer. We provide a free case review. There’s no risk or obligation for the initial consultation with one of our experienced Kentucky auto accident attorneys. We are available to meet with you to review the details of your crash and discuss your legal rights and options.
We understand the devastating effects of a car accident. Our goal is to help our clients recover financial compensation to cover their medical bills and related expenses and move forward with their lives.
We serve Kentucky drivers at our Lexington office and other convenient locations, including Manchester, London, Hazard, Paducah, Paintsville, Somerset, and Princeton. Our team of legal professionals is available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide guidance. Call us at 877-959-5309 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. You will not be charged a legal fee unless we win money for you through a negotiated settlement or verdict.
