Kentucky ranks 4th in distracted driving fatalities

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over a five-year span between 2013 and 2017, Kentucky ranked 4th in the nation for distracted driving fatalities.

Kentucky State Police Master Trooper Jody Sims says there are several types of distracted driving.

"You got the visual which drivers take their eyes off of the roadway. The hands when you take your hands off. Then cognitive when your mind is not on driving."

Sims also says there is one thing that comes to mind when thinking about distracted driving.

“Obviously the first thing you think of is the mobile devices that are so readily available and very few people today don’t have one of those," said Sims. “They’re probably the most distracting thing that we deal with on a day in and day out basis whether it is just driving or daily life."

The data also shows during there were nearly 168 distracted driving fatalities per year in those five years.

Sims says many do not think of distracted driving as harmful

“Many people think of the most detrimental actions and characteristics of dangerous driving is through impairment but distractive driving especially when you are utilizing electronic devices is just as if not more deadly because it is becoming more prevalent."