Traffic fatalities are on the rise across Kentucky, and if current trends continue through the end of the year, 2022 is going to be an especially deadly one on Kentucky’s roadways. Research shows a notable increase in the number of fatal car crashes that took place within state lines during the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same time span last year.
According to WAVE 3, the number of fatal crashes that occurred in Kentucky within the first quarter of the year rose 27.2% since the first quarter of 2021.
Traffic death statistics
During the first quarter of 2022, 206 people died in car crashes on Kentucky roads. This is four times the national road death rate and raises questions about why Kentucky motorists and passengers face such heightened risks on the road. On the national level, there were 9,560 road deaths that occurred during the first three months of 2022, which is a 7% increase over the same stretch of time the year prior. Kentucky is also one of the Mid-Atlantic states, which is an especially dangerous region to drive in. Traffic fatalities in the Mid-Atlantic region rose 52% so far this year in comparison to last year.
Traffic death contributing factors
Speed continues to contribute to many fatal and nonfatal crashes that take place across Kentucky and the nation. Distracted driving, too, contributes to many car wrecks across the United States. The fact that more drivers are out on the roads this year than there were last year may also help explain some of the upticks in deadly crashes seen in Kentucky and nationwide.
Drivers whose negligence winds up injuring or killing others may face serious legal repercussions.