New study ranks Kentucky 6th in most dangerous roads: What should you be watching out for?

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) – In a latest research, a Florida regulation agency ranked Kentucky the sixth in most harmful roads in the USA.

The research used knowledge surrounding fatality charges from 2020 to provide you with their rankings.

With a highway hazard ranking of 8.71 out of 10, Kentucky trails solely New Mexico (8.98), Montana (9.12), South Carolina (9.59), Arkansas (9.59), and Mississippi (9.93).

The research additionally reveals the Bluegrass State ranks tenth in fatality fee per 100,00 individuals at 17.31.

Regardless of these info, Kentucky was ranked within the top-10 (No. 8) in general highway high quality.

There are numerous issues competing for a driver’s consideration as of late outdoors of the highway itself. Though cellphones get the vast majority of the blame, there are much more issues that may be considered as distractions.

“As automobiles grow to be increasingly more refined, we’ve received extra car expertise,” mentioned Lori Weaver Hawkins, public affairs supervisor for AAA Bluegrass. “And whereas these applied sciences are there in most causes to sort of keep away from crashes and aid you to be safer, they will truly grow to be a distraction.”

Summer time journey is anticipated to see a sizeable uptick after two-plus years of pandemic restrictions. With that, AAA is reminding drivers to maintain their guards up, particularly for youthful drivers.

“The opposite factor to remember is, now that we’re in the summertime months, we’re in what we consult with because the ‘100 Deadliest Days’ sadly,” Hawkins mentioned. “And we see a rise in crashes, notably with out teen drivers.”

With elevated general journey, the nice and cozy climate brings a rise in highway building. Kentuckians are inspired to maintain an eye fixed out for automobiles parked on the aspect of the highway.

“Particularly as we go into the summer time season, of us don’t decelerate or transfer over for those who are working alongside the highway,” mentioned Hawkins. “Whether or not it’s one in all our roadside help individuals, a regulation enforcement, emergency, even a stranded motorist. Folks want to concentrate to that highway.”

We reached out to the Kentucky Transportation Cupboard for a response relating to what the state is attempting to do to make roads safer and so they responded with the next assertion:

The Kentucky Transportation Cupboard (KYTC) is dedicated to enhancing security and accessibility for all highway customers. KYTC has a devoted workplace, often known as the Kentucky Workplace of Freeway Security, that’s laser-focused on efforts to forestall crashes, accidents and deaths on our roadways by a number of approaches, comparable to infrastructure enhancements, behavioral schooling campaigns and public well being partnerships. These methods are outlined within the state’s Strategic Freeway Security Plan.

Bettering freeway security is a shared duty that requires partnership in any respect ranges, together with the general public. KYTC actively works with native, state and federal companions (just like the Federal Freeway Administration, the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Motor Provider Security Administration) and regulation enforcement to enhance security.   

Consciousness campaigns comparable to Buckle Up / Telephone Down, Stroll Secure KY, Bike Secure KY, and Not So Quick KY and excessive visibility enforcement comparable to Click on it or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over stress the significance of creating secure decisions when behind the wheel. 

Drivers are key companions in enhancing freeway security for all highway customers, and we encourage each driver to follow the next secure behaviors: put on a seat belt, put the telephone down, obey posted velocity limits, drive sober and look ahead to weak highway customers (comparable to bicyclists and pedestrians).

Based on NHTSA, carrying a seat belt offers motorists one of the best probability of stopping damage or demise; nevertheless, greater than half of these killed in motor automobiles on Kentucky roads final 12 months weren’t correctly buckled up.

The 50% statistic solely applies to these killed in automobiles and doesn’t embrace weak highway customers comparable to bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists.

Every Kentucky neighborhood is exclusive and security enchancment efforts can take totally different kinds. KYTC companions with counties and communities to help with native highway security planning efforts by the Security Circuit Rider Program and the Freeway Security Enchancment Program. 

In rural areas, single-vehicle roadway departure crashes characterize a major problem, leading to deaths and critical accidents.  To forestall deaths and critical accidents in these environments, KYTC has labored statewide to enhance signing (comparable to upfront of curves), highway striping and supply rumble strips on roadways.  Moreover, the KYTC 2021- 2022 and 2023-2024 finances consists of further funding investments for security enhancements.

Devoted funding by the bipartisan infrastructure regulation and discretionary grant utility alternatives will infuse extra {dollars} to put money into communities statewide to implement revolutionary security options within the coming years.