SHSP2025-2029

MISSION/VISION/GOAL

PREFACE: THIS SHSP, SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAY SAFETY, SERVES AS THE GUIDING DOCUMENT TO COORDINATE THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES OF STATE, FEDERAL, AND LOCAL AGENCIES, IN ADDITION TO ALL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADVOCATES IN KENTUCKY.

MISSION: TO PROVIDE A SAFE, EFFICIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT DELIVERS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN KENTUCKY.

VISION: THROUGH THE COORDINATED AND BOLD EFFORTS OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS, IMPROVE HIGHWAY SAFETY IN KENTUCKY SUCH THAT THOSE TRAVELLING ON ROADS IN THE COMMONWEALTH – EVERY PERSON, EVERY TRIP - ARRIVE AT THEIR DESTINATION UNHARMED.

GOAL: THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SHSP, PREVENT SERIOUS CRASHES ON KENTUCKY’S HIGHWAYS SUCH THAT THE ANNUAL NUMBER OF DEATHS FALLS AT OR BELOW 500 BY THE YEAR 2029. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS ZERO DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES FROM CRASHES

Emphasis Areas

Selection

Focus and opportunity guided the selection of the SHSP emphasis areas to improve safety for all users. A comprehensive analysis of crash data was conducted to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for improvement. Crash analysis included fatalities, serious injuries, fatal and serious injury rates, location of crashes, mode of travel, roadway features, behavioral factors, driver characteristics, vehicle types, and non-motorized roadway users. Within this analysis, Kentucky’s data for these categories were compared to bordering states and the national average to situate Kentucky’s safety performance.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving is generally defined as actions by drivers that result in adverse safety effects for themselves and other drivers and contribute to crashes. Aggressive Driving includes:

• Speeding (In any crash where speed is a factor, the severity is likely higher) – speeding, especially excessive speeding has to be eliminated to reduce crash severity
• Failure to yield right of way
• Following too closely
• Disregarding traffic control (e.g. stop signs, traffic signals/red light running) – T-bone intersection crashes are especially severe
• Weaving in traffic

Distracted Driving

Impaired Driving

Occupant Protection

Roadway Departure

Vulnerable Road Users

Motorcyclists

Operating a motorcycle is one of the most dangerous forms of transportation on Kentucky roadways. Motorcycles do not offer the same protections that a passenger vehicle does, leaving an operator virtually defenseless in the event of a crash. In addition, motorcycles are smaller than passenger vehicles making them less visible and more vulnerable when colliding with larger, heavier vehicles. From 2019-2023, 32 percent of crashes involving a motorcycle resulted in fatality or serious injury compared to just 3 percent of all crashes statewide.

Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV)

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) defines a commercial motor vehicle as any motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport property or passengers when the vehicle:

• Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more
• Is single or a combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more
• Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; or more than 15 passengers if not receiving compensation for the transportation.
• Any size vehicle that transports hazardous materials that require federal placarding

Older Drivers

Older drivers are defined as motor vehicle operators aged 65 and up. The average age of Kentucky’s population is increasing, and as such the share of older drivers on Kentucky roadways is also going up. With the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation entering retirement years, Kentucky’s population pyramid now resembles more a pillar, with nearly equal numbers of people in older groups as in middle aged and younger groups. There are unique safety challenges involved with older drivers including changes in vision, physical fitness, and reflexes.