US 31W in Kentucky: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 129 fatal crashes on US 31W in Kentucky killed 141 people, the 8th most of any numbered road in Kentucky. In 2024 there were 20 fatal crashes and 21 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 9 counties of Kentucky. All fatal crashes in Kentucky.
Deaths on US 31W in Kentucky by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 | 21 |
| 2023 | 14 | 16 |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 7 | 9 |
| 2019 | 6 | 7 |
| 2018 | 12 | 12 |
| 2017 | 17 | 19 |
| 2016 | 22 | 25 |
| 2015 | 23 | 24 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 31W in Kentucky: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Jefferson County County had the most fatal crashes on US 31W from 2015 to 2024: 63, with 65 deaths. Jefferson, Hardin and Warren counties together held 83% of fatal crashes in US 31W in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 94%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | 8 | 63 | 65 |
| 2 | Hardin County | 4 | 28 | 33 |
| 3 | Warren County | 3 | 16 | 16 |
| 4 | Simpson County | 1 | 7 | 9 |
| 5 | Hart County | 1 | 7 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 31W in Kentucky
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.0%
- Feb7.0%
- Mar8.5%
- Apr6.2%
- May10.9%
- Jun7.0%
- Jul8.5%
- Aug12.4%
- Sep8.5%
- Oct10.1%
- Nov7.8%
- Dec6.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 31W in Kentucky first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 54%; a pedestrian in 27%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 10%, a rollover in 3.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 70 | 54% |
| Pedestrian | 35 | 27% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 13 | 10% |
| Rollover | 4 | 3.1% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 2.3% |
| Other | 3 | 2.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.8% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on US 31W in Kentucky compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 18% of fatal crashes in US 31W in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024, below the Kentucky share of 25%; speeding in 12%, below the Kentucky share of 16%; a hit-and-run in 10%, above the Kentucky share of 4.3%; a driver recorded as distracted in 26%, above the Kentucky share of 19%; 48% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Kentucky share of 52%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Kentucky. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 31W | Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 33% | 66% | below the Kentucky share |
| At or near an intersection | 26% | 20% | above the Kentucky share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 26% | 29% | below the Kentucky share |
| A drinking driver | 18% | 25% | below the Kentucky share |
| Speeding | 12% | 16% | below the Kentucky share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 26% | 19% | above the Kentucky share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 52% | below the Kentucky share |
| Hit-and-run | 10% | 4.3% | above the Kentucky share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 14% | above the Kentucky share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 26% | 11% | above the Kentucky share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in US 31W in Kentucky
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 31W in Kentucky?
- 129 fatal crashes killed 141 people on US 31W in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 20 fatal crashes and 21 deaths.
- Where on US 31W in Kentucky do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Jefferson County had the most fatal crashes on US 31W from 2015 to 2024: 63, with 65 deaths. Hardin County was second with 28.
Other roads in Kentucky with a page
All fatal crashes in Kentucky, with every road ranked.
Where the US 31W numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 31W in Kentucky (filed under 18 spellings, such as "US-31W", "US-31W LOUISVILLE RD", "US-31W BOWLING GREEN RD", "US-31W DIXIE BLVD"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.