Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of NHTSA data, the most dangerous city to drive in in Kentucky is Somerset, KY with 37.2 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents per year (2020–2024; Road Danger Score 99/100), vs a US average of 12.3.
Highest Traffic-Fatality Rates in Kentucky
Cities ranked by Road Danger Score — 5-year traffic deaths per 100,000 residents from NHTSA FARS.
| # | City | Danger Score | Deaths per 100K/yr | Deaths 2020–2024 | Alcohol % | Speeding % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somerset | 99/100 | 37.2 | 23 | 9% | 9% |
| 2 | Shively | 99/100 | 35.1 | 27 | 25% | 25% |
| 3 | Shepherdsville | 98/100 | 29.6 | 22 | 25% | 15% |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | 94/100 | 19.7 | 33 | 10% | 13% |
| 5 | Louisville Metro | 89/100 | 16.6 | 562 | 28% | 24% |
| 6 | Paducah | 87/100 | 15.8 | 21 | 17% | 17% |
| 7 | Radcliff | 86/100 | 15.0 | 17 | 13% | 13% |
| 8 | Campbellsville | 82/100 | 13.6 | 8 | 13% | 0% |
| 9 | Danville | 78/100 | 12.6 | 11 | 18% | 9% |
| 10 | Berea | 77/100 | 12.4 | 10 | 20% | 10% |
| 11 | Henderson | 76/100 | 12.3 | 17 | 18% | 18% |
| 12 | Shelbyville | 76/100 | 12.3 | 11 | 11% | 0% |
| 13 | Franklin | 72/100 | 11.4 | 6 | 17% | 0% |
| 14 | Owensboro | 71/100 | 11.3 | 34 | 18% | 12% |
| 15 | Nicholasville | 69/100 | 11.0 | 18 | 12% | 18% |
| 16 | Bowling Green | 67/100 | 10.3 | 40 | 14% | 11% |
| 17 | Bardstown | 65/100 | 10.1 | 7 | 29% | 0% |
| 18 | Georgetown | 65/100 | 10.0 | 20 | 17% | 11% |
| 19 | Murray | 64/100 | 9.9 | 9 | 11% | 22% |
| 20 | Hopkinsville | 54/100 | 8.5 | 13 | 8% | 25% |
| 21 | Winchester | 53/100 | 8.3 | 8 | 25% | 0% |
| 22 | Newport | 46/100 | 7.3 | 5 | 25% | 25% |
| 23 | Richmond | 43/100 | 6.8 | 13 | 8% | 0% |
| 24 | Frankfort | 40/100 | 6.4 | 9 | 22% | 0% |
| 25 | Covington | 39/100 | 6.3 | 13 | 27% | 0% |
| 26 | Florence | 37/100 | 6.0 | 10 | 50% | 0% |
| 27 | Ashland | 33/100 | 5.7 | 6 | 60% | 20% |
| 28 | Jeffersontown | 32/100 | 5.6 | 8 | 43% | 14% |
| 29 | Erlanger | 26/100 | 5.0 | 5 | 20% | 20% |
| 30 | Versailles | 16/100 | 3.6 | 5 | 0% | 0% |
| 31 | Independence | 2/100 | 0.7 | 1 | 0% | 0% |