Montana drivers were ranked the worst drivers this year according to a study conducted by the CarInsuranceComparison.com. Montana has high speed limits and severe winter weather. That’s a bad combination. Montana drivers were also voted the worst in 2014. Second place goes to both New Mexico and South Carolina.
Related: Gas Prices Lowest Since 2008 In Kentucky
Where did Kentucky rank?
Kentucky was not included on this list. However, Kentucky has had its share of traffic fatalities. In fact, according to reports, the low gas prices this past summer and Thanksgiving season were great for drivers, but not for Kentucky road safety. So far in 2015, 594 deaths were recorded and over 100 of these incidents were alcohol-related, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). MADD Kentucky added that an average of 28 people die each day due to drunk driving. Meanwhile, 137 are killed due to distracted driving.
Statistics
In 2014, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety recorded over 53,500 distracted driving-related collisions. These crash incidents caused over 14,000 injuries and 170 fatalities. These figures represent 42% of all crashes and 25% of fatal crashes recorded on Kentucky roads.
How to prevent fatal crashes
Driving fatalities and injuries can be prevented. We can help prevent crashes by:
- Putting our phones away while driving. This will help keep us focused on the road and our hands on the wheel.
- Not drinking while driving.
- Being aware of our surroundings.
- Obeying traffic laws and speed limits.
What if you’re the passenger in a vehicle?
If you’re the passenger, you can remind the driver to stay away from any form of distraction. If they need to respond to a text or look up directions, you could do it for them. (Get their permission first.) It’s also important to try not to distract the driver. That’s not to say that you can’t talk with the driver. Just try not to take their full attention away from the road.
As a Kentucky Car Accident Attorney, I would like to ask Kentucky motorists to help make our roads safer for everyone. The safer we are on the roads, the fewer crashes and injuries we will have in Kentucky. Kentucky wasn’t on the list of worst driver in the country. However, that doesn’t give us an excuse to forget about traffic laws. Please always follow the rules of the road.