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 1,010 numbered roads in Kentucky. In 2024 there were 20 fatal crashes and 21 deaths on the road.
A 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 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 on 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
129 fatal crashes on US 31W in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 6 pm to 7 pm; the worst month is August.
| 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 crash | 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 crash | 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 crash | 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 crash | 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 crash | 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 crash | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 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
The largest difference from Kentucky: from 2015 to 2024, 33% of fatal crashes on US 31W in Kentucky were on rural roads, against 66% across Kentucky. Also above the Kentucky share: hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Kentucky. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 129 crashes.
| US 31W | Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 33% | 66% | below the Kentucky share |
| At or near an intersection | 26% | 20% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 26% | 29% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| A drinking driver | 18% | 25% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Speeding | 12% | 16% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 26% | 19% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 52% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Hit-and-run | 10% | 4.3% | above the Kentucky share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 14% | about the same as 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 on 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. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- 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. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.