This week is Winter Weather Awareness Week in Kentucky.
The winter season can bring many different hazards and impacts to the region and the National Weather Service uses Winter Weather Awareness week as a reminder that you need to be “weather ready” for all types of hazards, such as winter storms, snow squalls, ice storms, heavy rain and flooding, high winds, and even severe weather.
Winter weather brings many impacts to roadways each year, often resulting in many vehicle accidents, injuries, and fatalities.
According to the United States Federal Highway Administration, 29 percent of weather-related crashes, and 20 percent of weather-related fatalities occur on roads covered with snow, slush, or ice. Each year, over 1,300 people are killed, and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle accidents that occur on snow, slush, or ice covered roads.
Each year, 15 percent of vehicle accidents occur during snowfall or sleet. During these accidents, nearly 900 people are killed, and nearly 76,000 people are injured.