High Five Rural Traffic Safety Project

Introduction and Overview

High Five Logo

The High Five Rural Traffic Safety Seat Belt Program is a new program to Kentucky starting in 2022.

It was funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and facilitated by the Preusser Research Group (PRG) for the 2023 Federal Fiscal Year (October 1,2022 through September 30,2023).

The inspirational program was created in Iowa. It specifically focused on improving seatbelt usage in rural areas. Each round, 5 counties were selected for the program.

The NHTSA wanted to verify the results from Iowa and document best practicies. The NHTSA and the PRG reached out to the states and partnered with Arkansas and Kentucky. Click here or scroll down the page to see what made Kentucky a good candidate.

The data is driving this approach to preventing injuries and fatalities.

Iowa looked further into their numbers and specifically identified their secondary rural roadways as the locations to focus their efforts.

For the first year of the program, the NHTSA and the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) coordinated with local partners in 5 counties:

  • Bourbon County
  • Grayson County
  • Knott County
  • Madison County
  • Perry County

The KOHS is continuing the program for the state 2025 fiscal year using state funds.

  • Grant County
  • Lyon County
  • Perry County
  • Pike County
  • Taylor County

Why Kentucky

The High Five Project in Iowa focused on rural roadways. For doing the evaluation selection, the NHTSA and the PRG looked for states where that program might fit. Following are some statistics about Kentucky in general that speak towards its selection.

Length of Public Road System - 26th

Kentucky ranks 26th among states (plus DC) for length of its public road system (source: FHWA Highway Statistic Series 2020)

Kentucky has approximately 80,000 miles of public roadway. Approximately 81% (~65k) of that is Rural roadway.

The Volume of traffic on Kentucky roadways is approximately 127,000,000 miles driven daily. Approximately 54% (~69M) is on rural roadways.

Kentucky has approximately 130,000 collisions a year. Approximately 63% of those occurred in urban areas, but 52% of those occurred on rural roadways.

Return to Overview

Selection of Counties

The KOHS took the prioritization process from their Highway Safety Plan and modified it to incorporate additional parameters specific to the High Five Rural Traffic Safety Project. The project tries to look specifically at rural areas. The model project in Iowa focused on "Secondary Rural Roadways".

Kentucky looked at the roadway classifications for the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) and the Urban Area type associated with the routes in each county.

The data is presented via a Microsoft PowerBI dashboard - viewable here for the first year of the program in Kentucky.
The dashboard for the second year in Kentucky is viewable here.

The High Five Rural Traffic Safety Advisory Board asked the KOHS Law Enforcement Liasons to guide them towards likely candidate counties.

Return to Overview

Project Activities

The High Five concept involves many different activities for assessing the current state of the area and diagnosing solutions and enabling change:

  • community outreach
    • cards at local gathering places (businesses, festivals, restraurants, etc.)
    • cards at traffic safety checkpoints
    • posters at local gathering places (businesses, festivals, restraurants, etc.)
  • educational programs at all high schools in the county
  • observational seat belt surveys
    • before activites being
    • after some activites have occured
    • to measure the impact
  • assessments of the roadways - commonly referred to as Road Safety Audits via the help of the Kentucky Safety Circuit Rider Program and local and KYTC resources
Return to Overview

Locations

Within the selected counties for the first year, the KOHS pulled 2017-2021 collision data (5 years). The data was mapped via the GPS coordiates associated with the collisions. The collisions and injuries were summed to identify corrdiors with more injuries and collisions. The maps below show:

  • the county
  • the roads in that county (and adjacent counties)
  • the collision locations
  • the Top 10 road segments for the combined number of fatal, serious, and non-serious injuries
  • the Top 10 road segmetns for the total number of collisions

These maps are desgined for a 24" x 36" plot. They may be readable printed at smaller sizes. The "Layers" pane inside Adobe Acrobat Reader will let you turn data on and off on the maps.

Return to Overview
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                      
                      
                      
                      
                      
                      
                      
                      
                      
                      
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                               
                               
                               
                               
                               
                               
                               
                               
                               
                               
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                     
                                                                                     
                                                                                     
                                                                                     
                                                                                     
                                                                                     
                                                                                     
                                                                                     
                                                                                     
                                                                                     
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  

Kentucky Fatalities

Fatalities in Kentucky vary from year to year. The chart below shows the numbers year by year. In 2006, Kentucky passed its primary seat belt law and it went into effect in July of that year (orange bar).


In efforts to remove some of the variability, safety professionals use 5 year rolling averages to visualize larger trends.
Return to Overview
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
     
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
         
         
         
          
          
          
          
          
           
           
           
           
           
            
            
            
            
            
             
             
             
             
             
              
              
              
              
              
               
               
               
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                      
                      
                      
                      
                      
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                               
                               
                               
                               
                               
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   

Fatality Rate per 100 MVM for USA Overall versus Rural

Nationally the fatality rate per 100 Million Vehicle Miles (MVM) travelled is higher for rural areas.

Sources: multiple publications of NHTSA Rural/Urban Comparison 2021 and IIHS Rural/Urban comparison chart

Return to Overview
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
     
     
     
     
     
       
       
       
       
       
        
        
        
        
        
         
         
         
         
         
          
          
          
          
          
           
           
           
           
           
            
            
            
            
            
             
             
             
             
             
              
              
              
              
              
               
               
               
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                      
                      
                      
                      
                      
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                               
                               
                               
                               
                               
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                  
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           

Fatality Rate per 100 MVM for Kentucky versus USA

The fatality rate per 100 Million Vehicle Miles (MVM) travelled for Kentucky is higher than the national average.


Return to Overview
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
     
     
     
     
     
       
       
       
       
       
        
        
        
        
        
         
         
         
         
         
          
          
          
          
          
           
           
           
           
           
            
            
            
            
            
             
             
             
             
             
              
              
              
              
              
               
               
               
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                      
                      
                      
                      
                      
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                               
                               
                               
                               
                               
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            

Seat Belt Usage

Kentucky statewide seat belt usage has increased over the years. In 2006, Kentucky passed its primary seat belt law and it went into effect in July of that year. The Commonwealth is now near the national average.

Return to Overview
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
200 Mero Street, 6th FloorFrankfortKY40622KY8:00am-4:30pm EST, M-F(502) 564-1438(502) 564-0903 highwaysafety@ky.govhttps://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=200+mero+street+frankfort+ky&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=200+Mero+St,+Frankfort,+Franklin,+Kentucky+40601&gl=us&sqi=2&z=16&iwloc=Ahttps://www.facebook.com/kyhighwaysafetyhttps://twitter.com/kyhighwaysafetyhttps://www.instagram.com/kyhighwaysafety/https://www.pinterest.com/kyhighwaysafetyhttps://www.youtube.com/user/KyHwySafety

Follow Us