FRANKFORT – About a decade ago, Kentucky started to see a welcome trend as
the number of highway fatalities began a steady decline.
Totals that regularly exceeded 900 a year before 2007 dropped
to 638 in 2013, a figure not seen in the commonwealth since
the 1940s.
Unfortunately, that was as low as it would go. The number of
fatalities on our roads last year was almost a fifth higher
than the benchmark set just two years earlier, and through the
first seven-plus months of this year, it’s eight percent ahead
of where it was last August.
In fact, every major category of traffic accidents is up when
comparing last year to 2014, according to Kentucky State
Police. In its latest annual breakdown of the state’s
accidents, all 161,000 of them, KSP found that fatalities on
public roads increased by 13 percent; fender benders rose by
almost eight percent; and almost four percent more people were
injured.
A closer look at the fatalities shows many similarities with
previous years. Males continued to easily outnumber females
more than two-to-one, for example, and the 15 to 24 age group
was again the largest demographic represented, with about
twice as many killed as those 65 to 74. Alcohol was also a
major contributor, playing a role in more than a fifth of the
highway deaths.
Of the 87 who died in an accident involving motorcycles, 57
were not wearing a helmet, and neither were any of 19 who died
while on an ATV.
Crashes involving two or more vehicles were responsible for
more fatalities than any other reason, although accidents
involving such fixed objects as walls and trees weren’t far
behind. Almost a tenth of the fatalities were pedestrians or
bicyclists, and nine others died when their vehicle struck an
animal or train.
Two-thirds of all accidents were on urban roads, but a little
more than half of the fatalities were in rural areas. Friday
led the days of the week last year in the number of accidents,
and October had the highest number among the months.
Most traffic accidents, it appears, are not due road
conditions or the weather. Three-fourths occurred in dry
conditions and during the day, and almost two-thirds were on
roads that are straight and level.
Although it is impossible to calculate the loss of life, the
KSP study does estimate the costs of medical care, lost wages
and the property damage due to traffic accidents. It runs a
year behind because of the time needed to calculate the data,
but the estimates show that 2014’s comprehensive costs
exceeded $17.6 billion.
Over the last dozen years, the General Assembly and our state
and local law enforcement have worked together to improve
highway safety. That includes requiring teens to drive longer
before qualifying for an unrestricted license; banning texting
while driving; and focusing efforts in the field to catch
intoxicated drivers and to encourage more citizens to buckle
up.
Last year, my legislative colleagues and I increased the age
and height limits for booster seats and set the stage for
greater use of ignition-interlock devices, a move designed to
keep repeat DUI offenders from driving intoxicated again.
This year, a new law builds on that by doubling the look-back
for repeat DUI convictions from five years to 10. That longer
timeframe will make more repeat offenders eligible for tougher
penalties.
With most schools now in session, the Kentucky State Police
asked all drivers last week to be more aware as school buses
complete their morning and afternoon routes. KSP noted that
there were more than 850 accidents involving school buses last
year, which resulted in nearly 300 injuries and three
fatalities.
In two separate stories highlighted in the national media last
week, it was reported that drowsiness may be responsible more
than 328,000 traffic accidents and 6,400 fatalities each year
across the country. Meanwhile, another hazard – road debris –
was the cause of 200,000 accidents between 2011 and 2014,
resulting in 500 fatalities.
It may not be possible to do away with traffic accidents
altogether, but there is no doubt that lowering them
dramatically remains in our control if we drive a little
safer, stay more alert and make sure that the roads themselves
are in the best shape possible. A little extra precaution can
go a long way as we try to reverse the troubling traffic
trends we’ve seen recently.
If you have any suggestions on further improvements we can
make, please let me know. My address is Room 351A, Capitol
Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort KY 40601; or you can
email me at
Will.Coursey@lrc.ky.gov<
If you would like to leave a message for me or for any
legislator, call toll-free at 800-372-7181. For those with a
hearing impairment, the number is 800-896-0305.
I hope to hear from you soon.
