Kentucky Department of Transportation Key Terms

The Kentucky Department of Transportation implements various programs to help ensure driver safety

By Renee Baumgardner

Like the functions of other state department of transportation agencies, the Kentucky Department of Transportation processes drivers’ licenses, vehicle licensing and titling and oversees road improvement projects. In addition, the Kentucky Department of Transportation implemented various programs to help improve the safety of motorists traveling its highways. Examples include the SAFE Patrol program, which provides roadside assistance to motorists, the Graduated Driver Licensing and Road Ready Teens programs aimed teen driving safety and the Share the Road Motorcyclist Safety Program. Other programs provided by the Kentucky DOT include Dial 511 and Adopt-a –Highway.

SAFE Patrol program

The SAFE Patrol, operated by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety Division of Incident Management, assists motorists who experience vehicle breakdowns or are involved in an accident on select interstates and parkways. Services provided to motorists include changing of flat tires and minor repairs. The SAFE Patrol also removes debris from roadway, directs traffic at accident scenes and checks and tags abandoned vehicles.
Try: To learn about the hours of operation and other services provided, refer to the SAFE Patrol webpage.

Graduated Driver Licensing Program

Kentucky's Graduated Driver Licensing Program consists of three phases -- the permit, intermediate license, and full unrestricted driver license phase. Each phase contains regulations pertaining to required practice driving hours, moving violations and accumulation of points.
Try: Refer to the Graduated Driver Licensing Program webpage for specific requirements associated with each licensing phase.

Road Ready Teens

The Kentucky Department of Transportation takes an interest in the safety of its teenage drivers and supports Chrysler's Road Ready Teens program. This program educates teenagers on driver safety using a video game, Road Ready Streetwise, that presents obstacles and distractions such as having passengers in the car, children in the street, vehicles backing out and bad weather.
Try: To learn more about this program, refer to the Road Ready Teens website.

Share the Road - Motorcyclist Safety

The Share the Road - Motorcyclists Safety Program, established by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), works to educate motorists on motorcycle awareness while driving. Recommendations provided to motorists includes not sharing lanes with motorcyclists, maintaining a stopping distance of at least 3 to 4 seconds and be sure to check blind spots for motorcycles that may be hidden.
Try: Refer to the Share the Road – Motorcyclists Safety Program webpage to learn more driving safety tips.

Dial 511

The Kentucky Department of Transportation Dial 511, sometimes referred to as a Travel Information Number, provides statewide information on driving conditions, road closures, rest areas, traffic cams and weather. In addition to accessing this information via telephone, individuals may also view this information online using an interactive mapping application.
Try: To view information online, refer to the Kentucky Department of Transportation Dial 511 webpage.

Adopt-a-Highway

The Adopt-a-Highway program works to provide Kentucky with clean highways, thanks to the efforts of volunteers adopting two-mile sections of roadway for which they assume responsibility for picking up trash at least four times a year. Volunteer organizations may obtain trash bags and safety vests to use the day of their trash pickup from The Kentucky Department of Transportation.
Try: For specifics on to participate in this program, refer to the Adopt-a-Highway webpage.