In 2011, there were 30,000 crashes on Jefferson County roads. That’s 83 crashes a day, but the good news is that Louisville’s roads are becoming less deadly. Crash fatalities have dropped 17 percent from 2010 to 2011, and statistics have shown that the usage of seatbelts is up. The number of pedestrian deaths has also dropped significantly, as well. Unfortunately, DUI related fatalities had the same number as with the previous year.
There are specific roadways in Louisville that are more accident prone then others. In 2011, Poplar Level Road had four fatal crashes last year. Third Street and Preston Highway each had three fatalities. Whereas, Greenbelt Highway, Fern Valley Road, Taylorsville Road, the Gene Snyder Freeway, the Watterson Expressway and Interstate 65 each had two fatal accidents.
There is one road that continues to be the deadliest in Jefferson County: Dixie Highway. It had seven fatal accidents in 2011, one more than the previous year. The so-called Dixie Die-way also had 280 injury accidents in 2011, significantly higher than the totals for the other dangerous roads, which are the Watterson, I-65, Bardstown Road and Broadway.
There’s a dangerous mile long strip on Dixie Highway in Shively that injured sixty-nine people on a single mile in a single year. It begins just north of the Watterson Expressway at Herbert Avenue, continues north through the intersection with Crums Lane and Seventh Street Road, past Shively Park and ends at Theresa Avenue. This spot is known to be dangerous because of its tremendous congestion, claimed by Shively Police. Police also pointed out the busiest intersection is on this stretch where Dixie Highway meets Crums Lane and Seventh Street Road. This intersection has no center turn lane which potentially could lead to more collisions. There was a highway plan that was recently approved by the state Legislature that includes $5 million to improve Dixie Highway between Crums Lane and Rockford Lane. It also adds a center turn lane between the Watterson and Crums Lane. But the funding to start construction doesn’t kick in until 2014.
As a personal injury attorney, I advise that it is up to us personally as drivers to be more aware and responsible on the road. Even if the roads are perfectly constructed, accidents will still happen if drivers continue with inattentive driving.