Fatal crashes are way down in Lexington so far this year. What’s causing the shift?
Last year was one of the deadliest years on the road in Lexington’s history, as fifty-two people died in traffic crashes in Fayette County, including 20 pedestrians.
That marked the most deaths from crashes in a single year since at least 2011, when Kentucky State Police began tracking the data.
Officials in Lexington, including Mayor Linda Gorton, vowed to prioritize improving traffic safety at the time.
And so far this year, the numbers have plummeted.
As of Sept. 11, there had been just 19 fatal collisions in Fayette County this year, resulting in 19 deaths, according to KSP data. At this time last year, there were 34 of each.
And of the 16 fatal crashes this year, only four involved pedestrians.
Lexington police Lt. Chris Van Brackel said in an interview he credits several things for the decreases, including a new emphasis on seat belt citations and ongoing projects to improve Lexington’s roads.
Still, though numbers are down significantly from this time last year, officials warn that late summer and early fall are when traffic deaths tend to spike.
And that’s been true this year, too. Since Aug. 6, nine people have been killed in seven crashes, according to KSP data.
Since 2011, September has been the deadliest month of the year in Lexington with 3.8 deadly crashes a year. August and June have seen 3.2 deadly crashes per year, and October and November fill out the top half of the deadliest months of the year.
Trend or anomaly?
Though last year marked a severe uptick in fatal crashes involving pedestrians, it was also an outlier. From 2019 to 2022, just 18 total pedestrians were killed by vehicles in Fayette County. Last year alone saw more than that.
Christopher Evilia, the transportation transportation planning manager for the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, said one problem with analyzing crash data is the many variables that contribute to the results.
“One year could be a really bad year, the next year could be a really good year and there’s not necessarily a direct correlation between the number of crashes or the number of people being hurt versus strategy,” Evilia said.
It’s too early to tell exactly why crashes spiked so much last year, Van Brackel said. It’ll likely take a few more years of data to determine if that was just an anomaly.
But the decrease in pedestrian deaths this year has been the result of an intentional effort, he said.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, how big you are – the motor vehicle is going to win,” Van Brackel said. “That was why we were really trying last year to push, as an educational campaign, pedestrian safety.”
Contributing factors
Van Brackel said several factors have contributed to this year’s downward trend in fatal crashes, but a particular one is the department’s emphasis on handing out seat belt tickets.
“If you’re wearing your seat belt and you’re in a crash, you’re going to have a better chance of surviving that crash,” Van Brackel said.
In Kentucky drivers, are issued a $25 dollar fine per person in a vehicle who is not wearing a seat belt.
Since 2006, when year Kentucky passed its seat belt law, the seat belt usage rate in Kentucky increased from 67% to about 90% percent, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Van Brackel said officers don’t enjoy giving out citations, but it helps spread awareness about wearing seat belts.
“It is a way to change driving behavior,” Van Brackel said. “People talk. ‘Hey, I just got a ticket for no seat belt.’ ‘Oh I better start wearing my seat belt so I’m not like my friend and get a ticket for no seat belt.’”
What’s being done to improve traffic safety?
The Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, founded in 1974, is a federally funded and locally administered program that seeks to improve safety on roadways in Fayette and Jessamine counties.
Evilia said the MPO’s goal is to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious collisions in the future. He ultimately wants to avoid the data from getting worse, but hopes there will be zero traffic-related fatalities by 2050.
“Our basic mission statement is getting people and goods from point A to point B safely in a reasonable amount of time,” Evilia said.
Evilia said one way of accomplishing that goal is redesigning Lexington’s road map and changing it accordingly. The MPO is analyzing the roadway network and identifying conflict points at intersections.
For example, a typical signalized intersection has 32 potential conflict points — areas where at least two vehicles could come together at a point, Evilia said. A roundabout has only eight.
Evilia acknowledged that redesigning the road map will take decades. Meanwhile, the MPO is pursuing several short-term objectives, including forming a panel of experts to discuss strategies to improve safety and hiring a complete streets coordinator.
In December, the federal government awarded Lexington nearly $22 million to make improvements to New Circle Road on the city’s north side. The projects will feature new interchanges, as well as bike and pedestrian paths.
“We’re not going to eliminate crashes. We know that,” Evilia said. “But if we reduce the opportunity to have a crash, then that’s going to have a positive impact.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2024 at 4:45 AM.
