Kentucky

GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Kentucky. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.

  • Alcohol Impaired Driving

    Penalties

    Increased Penalty for High BAC Administrative License Suspension on First Offense Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension
    .15 30-120 days Yes

    Ignition Interlocks

    Mandatory for all convictions

    Other

    Open Container Laws Repeat Offender Laws
    Yes Yes

     

  • Child Passenger Safety

    Child Restraint Required

    40" or shorter in child restraint

    7 yrs or under and between 40" and 57" tall in booster seat

    Adult Safety Belt Permissible

    Taller than 57"

  • Distracted Driving

    Hand-Held Ban?

    No

    All Cell Phone Ban?

    School Bus Drivers

    Yes. Primary law.

    Novice Drivers

    Drivers under 18. Primary law.

    Text Messaging Ban?

    All drivers. Primary law.

  • Drug Impaired Driving

    DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs

    • Zero tolerance for some drugs

    Marijuana-Specific Laws

    • Possession and Use: Illegal
    • Impaired Driving: None
  • Mature Drivers

    Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

    8 years

    Provisions for Mature Drivers

    None

  • Motorcyclists

    Helmets required for riders under 21 or who have been licensed less than one year. Universal helmet law repealed 1998.

  • Seat Belts

    Type of Law

    Primary

    Who Is Covered?

    7 and under and more than 57 inches

    8 and over

    In What Seat?

    All

  • Speed and Red Light Cameras

    Speed Cameras

    No state law or programs

    Red Light Cameras

    No state law or programs

  • Speeding and Aggressive Driving

    Rural Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    65 65

    70 on specific segments based on an engineering and traffic investigation

    Urban Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    65 65

    Other Limited Access Roads

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    65 65
  • Teen and Novice Drivers

    Full Privilege Minimum Age

    17 years

    Learner Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    Minimum Duration (Months)

    Required Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours)
    16 6 60 (10)

    Intermediate Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    		 Nighttime Driving Restriction

    Passenger Restriction (except family, unless noted)
    16 / 6 Midnight - 6 a.m. No more than 1 under 20 unless supervised by instructor (secondary enforcement)