Winter driving

The same traffic laws apply in winter as in the rest of the year, but several of them matter more when roads are covered with snow or ice. The most important is the duty to drive at a speed that is reasonable for the conditions.

Speed, lights and visibility

State law says no one may drive faster than is reasonable and prudent, having regard for traffic and for the condition and use of the highway. On snow or ice, that can mean a speed well below the posted limit. Headlights must be on from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, and at any other time when the weather makes visibility that poor. The headlight statute is written in terms of visibility, not wiper use. The Kentucky Driver Manual tells drivers to remove snow, ice and frost from all windows before starting out.

Transportation Cabinet safety guidance

• Check road conditions before you leave, using the Cabinet’s GoKY traffic map or the Waze app.
• Drive slowly on snow and ice, whatever you drive, and brake early and gently.
• Slow down near intersections, off-ramps, bridges and shaded areas, where black ice forms.
• Keep a safe distance from snowplows and do not pass one on the shoulder.
• Carry an emergency kit with an ice scraper, jumper cables, blankets, a flashlight, a phone charger, snacks and a first aid kit.

Snow emergencies and parking

Snow emergency rules are local. In Campbell County, the Office of Emergency Management may declare a snow emergency at one of three levels under a county ordinance. Level One advises cautious driving. Level Two recommends essential travel only. Level Three restricts roads to emergency personnel and people traveling for work, medical care, medical supplies, provisions or private snow removal. At any level, parking is prohibited on county-maintained roads until the emergency is lifted. Vehicles that create a safety hazard may be towed, and fines can reach $250. Cities set their own rules for city streets, and those rules vary.

After a crash

Stop, check for injuries, give reasonable help and, if asked, give your name, address and registration number. On an interstate or parkway, if no one is visibly hurt and no hazardous material is involved, move the vehicles off the roadway as soon as it can be done safely. Notify police immediately if anyone is hurt or killed or a vehicle cannot be driven. If police do not investigate and the crash caused injury, death or at least $500 in property damage, the driver must file a written report with the Kentucky State Police within ten days.