Kentucky Injury Resource Center
Reviewed by Larry Forman, Attorney.
Kentucky State Police counted 117,661 reported collisions on Kentucky public roads in 2024. Those crashes killed 707 people. On each crash report, the investigating officer can list up to three things each driver did that contributed to the crash, plus vehicle and road factors. The tables below come from the KSP 2024 Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts report. Because an officer can list more than one factor, the percentages don’t add up to 100.
| Factor listed on the report | All collisions | % of all | Fatal collisions | % of fatal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver inattention | 42,363 | 36% | 123 | 18.7% |
| Not under proper control | 14,405 | 12.2% | 187 | 28.4% |
| Failed to yield | 13,678 | 11.6% | 70 | 10.6% |
| Misjudged clearance | 11,388 | 9.7% | 21 | 3.2% |
| Following too close | 7,239 | 6.2% | 5 | 0.8% |
| Failed to keep proper lane | 6,325 | 5.4% | 109 | 16.5% |
| Distraction | 4,479 | 3.8% | 21 | 3.2% |
| Disregarded traffic control | 3,964 | 3.4% | 33 | 5.0% |
| Too fast for conditions | 3,487 | 3.0% | 30 | 4.6% |
| Alcohol involvement | 3,447 | 2.9% | 102 | 15.5% |
| Unsafe speed | 1,162 | 1.0% | 98 | 14.9% |
| Drug involvement | 1,082 | 0.9% | 73 | 11.1% |
| Cell phone | 925 | 0.8% | 6 | 0.9% |
Two things stand out. Inattention shows up in more crashes than anything else. And the factors that show up most in fatal crashes are loss of control, leaving the lane, speed and impairment. KSP notes that drug involvement is likely underreported because there is no reliable roadside drug test.
| Factor | All collisions | Fatal collisions |
|---|---|---|
| Slippery surface | 8,640 | 45 |
| Animal in the road | 6,798 | 12 |
| Water pooling | 1,578 | 10 |
| Sun glare | 1,279 | 7 |
| Debris in the roadway | 1,036 | 5 |
| Roadway construction | 994 | 4 |
Bad weather is rarely a defense by itself. Kentucky law requires every driver to go no faster than is “reasonable and prudent” for traffic and road conditions (KRS 189.390(2)).
The cause decides who pays and how much. Kentucky uses pure comparative fault, so a jury assigns each person a percentage of fault and reduces your award by your share (KRS 411.182). The police report’s “contributing factors” box is a starting point, not the final word. Officers often write it before anyone has looked at video, vehicle data or witness accounts. See how fault is determined in a Kentucky car accident and accident reconstruction.
For more numbers, see Kentucky car crash statistics and Louisville car accident statistics. If you were hurt, our Louisville car accident lawyer page explains how we build these cases.
Driver inattention. Kentucky State Police listed it as a factor in 42,363 collisions in 2024, about 36% of all reported crashes.
In 2024, the factors listed most often in fatal collisions were a driver not having the vehicle under proper control (28.4%), driver inattention (18.7%), failing to keep in the proper lane (16.5%), alcohol (15.5%) and unsafe speed (14.9%).
Yes. The officer’s contributing factors are an opinion formed at the scene. Video, black box data, witness statements and reconstruction can show something different, and the report itself usually isn’t the deciding evidence at trial.
Usually not by itself. Kentucky requires drivers to slow down for conditions (KRS 189.390(2)). A driver who crashes because they drove too fast for rain, ice or fog can still be at fault.
Tell us what happened. We’ll explain your options and what to do next. The consultation is free.
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This page is general information about Kentucky law as of October 2026, not legal advice. Every case is different.
