Safely explore Kentucky in a rental car by brushing up on your knowledge of the general road rules and speed limits. This can hopefully help you to avoid fines and traffic offenses during your vacation. In this article, we also give you information on parking and turning laws along with things to do in Kentucky, the state of limestone landscapes, bourbon distilleries, and bluegrass music.
General Rules and Regulations
- Seatbelts must be worn at all times and children 40 inches tall or less must be seated in an appropriate safety seat.
- When driving on the highway the left lane is for passing only.
- Drivers must use their headlights in weather conditions such as fog, rain or snow and when the sun begins to set.
- Keep your distance! Drivers in Kentucky are required to leave at least 3 seconds of distance from the vehicle in front. On faster roads, this increases to 5 seconds.
- It is illegal to leave a child under 8 years old in a vehicle unattended.
- Drivers must always stop for a bus when it is loading or unloading unless you are driving on the opposite side of a highway with 4 lanes or more.
- Pedestrians and funeral processions have right of way. Drivers must also yield to pedestrians when making a turn at an intersection with a crosswalk.
Speed Limits in Kentucky
In Kentucky, you must make an assessment of the conditions and dangers of speeds in your specific situation. There is both a minimum and maximum speed limit that must be observed. Drivers are required to keep to the right lane where possible to not impede the flow of traffic.
| School zones | 25 mph |
| Within city limits | 25-35 mph |
| Highways | 55 mph |
| Urban interstate highways | 65 mph |
| Freeways and interstate highways | 70 mph |
Turning and Parking
- On some highways, you will see an opening that is used specifically for turning around and U-turns are legal in most situations across the state as long as you check that you have good visibility of traffic in all directions and will not cause an obstruction.
- To avoid fines or having your rental vehicle towed in Kentucky, be sure to not obstruct the traffic when parking on the road. You must park within 12 inches of the curb and keep your distance from obstructions in the road, private driveways and places where emergency services may require access.
Car Rental with SIXT in Kentucky
In Kentucky, you can have a piece of the north and south, choose from cosmopolitan cities and quaint rural towns, and always have access to beautiful natural scenery. Head over to Louisville or Lexington to get your urban fix of cocktail bars and live music while still enjoying beverages from local bourbon distilleries and food straight from the farm. Out in the national parks hiking and rock climbing are hugely popular sports. From Lexington be sure to check out the limestone scenery outside the city in and take a drive southwest to reach Mammoth Caves National Park. In the south on the border with Tennessee, you can also visit the beautiful Big South Fork River and Recreation area. For scenic drives, we highly recommend the Red River Gorge route and the Country Music Highway to transport you through important sites in Kentucky‘s music history.
