Primary Safety Belt Law
It has been the law for years that drivers and passengers had to wear their safety belts. Until now, it was a secondary offense (meaning they had to commit another infraction before they could be cited for not wearing their belt). Effective July 12, 2006, Kentucky law enforcement officials can pull over motorists for not using their safety belts.
Click here for an information sheet.
Graduated
Driver's Licensing Law
Kentucky has improved the existing graduated driver's licensing law.
Click here for more information.
"Quick Clearance" Law
If you are involved in a crash on an interstate or parkway, move the vehicle off the roadway if there is no death, or visible or known injury. Once safely off the roadway, call police and exchange insurance information.
If you have a disabled vehicle, move vehicle off the roadway if possible, turn on emergency flashers, and stay in the vehicle. Tie something white or bright colored to the antenna or window to request first aid. Turn on the dome light if it’s dark.
If you cannot move the disabled vehicle off the roadway, stand away from the vehicle.
Click here for an information sheet.
"Move Over" Law
When an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the road, move to the next lane or slow down if changing lanes is not possible.
In addition to police, fire, and emergency medical vehicles, emergency vehicles include public safety vehicles (utility repair vehicles; wreckers; state, county and municipal service vehicles and equipment), highway equipment, and vehicles escorting wide-load or slow-moving trailers or trucks. These vehicles display yellow, red, red and white, red and blue, or blue lights.
To be safe, it is always best to move over for any stationary vehicle if possible.
Click here for an information sheet.
Motorcycle Headgear or Helmet Law
Click here for information.
ATV Law
Click here for information.
Booster Seat Law
Booster seats provide an extra step between child safety seats and seatbelts. Boosters are intended to lift the child up off the vehicle seat to improve the fit of the adult lap and shoulder seatbelt.
Click here for information on selecting the right restraint to keep your child safe.
When is your child ready to move up from their booster seat?
- The lap portion of the belt should fit low on the hips or high on the thighs and the shoulder portion of the belt should be snug across the collarbone. An improper fit of the adult safety belt can cause the lap belt to ride up over the stomach and the shoulder belt to cut across the neck, potentially exposing the child to serious abdominal or neck injury. Until your child is big enough for this fit, they should continue using a booster seat.
Why have a booster seat law?
- According to Partners for Child Passenger Safety, more than 90% of 4 to 8-year-old children who were seriously injured in a crash were not restrained in a booster seat.
In 2008, Kentucky enacted legislation regarding the use of booster seats. The rewording of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) is provided in the bill, linked below.
Additional Information regarding booster seats
Click here for information about the bill. (Provided by Legislative Research Commision)
Click here for the text of the law.(Provided by LRC, will be updated some time on or after July 15,2008.)
