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Forbes Advisors studies rank Kentucky drivers near the bottom; AAA Bluegrass offers solutions

AAA Bluegrass's public affairs manager says practicing courtesy while driving is a good way to make roadways safe for motorists and pedestrians.
AAA Bluegrass
AAA Bluegrass's public affairs manager says practicing courtesy while driving is a good way to make roadways safe for motorists and pedestrians.

According to recent studies by Forbes Advisors, Kentucky ranks near the bottom of the states when it comes to risky driving behaviors. Lori Weaver Hawkins is the public affairs manager for Triple-A Bluegrass. She said her data shows distracted driving, often involving cell phones, continues to be as much a factor in fatal crashes as driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“Even hands-free use of a mobile device is distracting, takes your focus off the road, and even after you hang up a call, you're still distracted mentally for quite a ways down the road.

Weaver Hawkins said aggressive driving behaviors like running stop signs and stop lights, speeding and tailgating continue to be problems. She offered this advice to make driving safer for everyone:

“We really need to get back to showing courtesy to other drivers. That's really at the root of a lot of this. We've got this me first attitude, and that's causing us a lot of problems out on the roadways.”

Weaver Hawkins said using turn signals lets both drivers and pedestrians know your intentions.

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John McGary is a Lexington native and Navy veteran with three decades of radio, television and newspaper experience.
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