Louisville’s most dangerous roads
Each year on Louisville streets and roads, there is an average of 6,600 injuries and 76 deaths. This raises a question: Where and when are you most likely to get in a motor vehicle crash on a Louisville-area road?
The answer is 11 p.m. on a Saturday night in May or October, on Dixie Highway, according to crash statistics from the traffic safety organization Vision Zero.
The most dangerous roads
Here are the Louisville area’s most dangerous, non-interstate roads, in order of most dangerous to least:
- Dixie Highway
- Preston Highway
- Highway 150 (both north and south of I-265)
- East Broadway and West Broadway
- Westport Road
- Poplar Level Road
- Breckenridge Lane
- Fern Valley Road
- 7th Street Road
- Cane Run Road
- Shelbyville Road
Most crashes, by time of day
When do accidents occur in Lousville? For number of crashes by hour, the three most dangerous hours are:
- 11 p.m.
- 4 p.m.
- 7 p.m.
The least-dangerous hours are:
- 11 a.m.
- 10 a.m.
- 8 a.m.
Most crashes, by day of the week
- Most accidents: Saturday
- Least accidents: Wednesday
Most crashes, by month of the year
- Most: May and October (tied)
- Least: January
Who is responsible for safety?
The Vision Zero safety program emphasizes “a shared responsibility between road users and transportation infrastructures in achieving zero traffic-related fatalities.” Louisville Metro Public Works is a member of Vision Zero.
To reduce the number of accidents, Louisville Metro Public Works has pledged to: “adopt a data driven decision-making approach; build strong partnerships with local agencies, institutions, and the general public; and ensure a safe and equitable mobility service.”
Until major improvements are made in Louisville-area transportation, it might be wise to avoid Dixie Highway on Saturday nights in May and October.