Can anyone tell me why Kentucky doesn't require annual vehicle inspections in concert with the registration renewals?

 Noboby's examined my car since I first got Kentucky plates -- back in 1997.

 Since then, how likely is it that I've had headlights, turn signals or brake lights burn out and need to be replaced?

Well, what if they do, and I don't want to spend any money or time to fix it? Is anybody going to tell me to fix it? Pretty much any person of any class or race would consider it being hassled by the police if they pulled you over and gave you a citation, right?

 So, where's my incentive to fix my burned-out brake lights? Sure, I'll get them fixed if my car gets rear-ended. It will likely cost a helluva lot more $$ than just getting it fixed, right?

It seems that in Kentucky, this is an acceptable risk. In ARKANSAS, of all places,  vehicles have to be inspected before new registration tags are issued. It costs a nominal fee, and most auto service centers/oil change shops/full service gas stations would provide the service, so it wouldn't take much time or be too far out of anyone's way.

 Passing inspection wins you a small sticker that is placed on your windshield in the general location of where we already have a stack of parking passes growing steadily by the road trip -- the inspector even will have a nifty gadget that removes the old sticker before the new one is applied -- so there won't be a trail of inspection stickers running all the way around the edge of your 1974 Oldsmobuick Behemoth.

Now, not even this would help people with their turn signals, but it might help