Traffic Fatalities in Kentucky Rose in 2020 Despite Decrease in Miles Driven

2 min read

The Federal Highway Administration estimates miles driven fell by 13.2% in 2020 from 3.3 trillion miles in 2019 to 2.83 trillion miles in 2020. The marks the lowest number of miles driven in two decades. Despite the pandemic forcing people inside and significantly reducing miles driven, fatal wrecks and accidents in Kentucky resulted in traffic fatalities actually increasing in Kentucky from 732 in 2019 to 780 in 2021 according to the Kentucky Department of Transportation.

Interestingly fatal car, motorcycle, and truck wrecks involving Commercial Motor Vehicles (like 18-wheelers and dump trucks) also ticked up with 95 in 2020 compared to 91 in 2019. As expected, the majority of fatal semi-truck accidents with cars and trucks were centered around the population centers of Louisville (161), Lexington (100), Elizabethtown (81) and Covington (70). The same was true for motorcycle fatality wrecks involving big rigs– 12 motorcyclists lost their lives in Louisville, 16 in Lexington, and 8 in E-town.

In terms of age, almost 50% of all fatalities were between 21 and 44 years old.

But the most telling statistic of all….57% of fatalities were not wearing a seatbelt.

#BuckleUpKentucky.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, semi-truck wreck, or other collision, please contact us online at the Poppe Law Firm^® or call us at 502-895-3400