The rate of fatalities on Kentucky’s roadways has increased in 2012, according to preliminary numbers from the Kentucky State Police.   There were 64 fatalities as of Feb. 9, five more than at the same time last year.

“Although it is still early, we want to be proactive in addressing this increase in highway deaths on Kentucky roadways,” said KSP Spokesperson Lt. David Jude.

Of the 64 people killed so far this year, 31 were not wearing seat belts and nine died in crashes involving alcohol.

“With the decent winter weather, more people have been traveling our roadways, which might explain the fatality increase,” said Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) Director Bill Bell. “However, it does not explain why people are not making safe decisions when they get behind the wheel.”

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that seat belts, when worn correctly, reduce the risk of fatalities by 45 percent for front-seat vehicle occupants, and by 60 percent for pickup truck, SUV and minivan occupants. Also according to NHTSA, regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect against and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.  

“KSP wants to remind motorists not to become complacent when it comes to highway safety.  We plan to be vigilant in enforcing seat belt laws and will continue targeting impaired drivers who endanger the lives of others,” said Jude.

The KOHS offers various highway safety educational programs to the public and distributes federal highway safety grants to state and local highway safety agencies.  It annually partners with state and local law enforcement to promote the national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt campaign and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” impaired driving campaign. 

“Our office will continue working with highway safety agencies across the state to educate everyone on the benefits of safe driving habits,” said Bell. 

A final total will not be available until April 2, but preliminary numbers for 2011 indicate there were 720 fatalities on Kentucky roadways. Of those, 49 percent were not buckled up and 16 percent involved alcohol.

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The holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement effort, coordinated by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS), resulted in 1,211 citations for drunken driving.

The annual, federally funded campaign, supported by more than 200 state and local law enforcement agencies, was held Dec. 16, 2011 – Jan. 2, 2012.

The campaign’s main objective was to keep drunken drivers off the road. In the process, officers at 340 traffic safety checkpoints throughout the Commonwealth also made 1,346 felony arrests and 1,185 drug arrests. They recovered 35 stolen vehicles, apprehended 1,808 fugitives and issued 2,805 seat belt citations. They also cited 9,037 drivers for speeding, 429 for reckless driving and 3,722 people for having no proof of automobile insurance.

“The goal of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is not to write tickets, but to save lives,” said Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock.  “We want to educate the public on the dangers of drunken driving and reduce deaths and injuries along our roadways.  It’s an extra benefit when traffic enforcement leads to criminal enforcement.”
                                             
Last year, Kentucky recorded over 4,700 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 139 deaths and more than 2,400 injuries. 

“We’re pleased with the results of the holiday campaign and appreciate the officers who work tirelessly throughout the state to keep our roadways safe,” said Office of Highway Safety Director Bill Bell.  “The partnership between all the agencies involved was tremendous. If one life was saved, it was well worth the effort.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of alcohol-related fatalities declined in the United States from 2008 to 2009.  Still, in 2009, nearly 11,000 people were killed in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher – the legal threshold for drunken driving.

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