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Deaths on Kentucky roads decline for second year in a row, state Office of Highway Safety report says


For the second year in a row, the number of deaths on Kentucky roads declined, according to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.


Preliminary figures released on Friday indicate there were 722 fatalities in 2018, which was 60 fewer then in 2017 and 116 less than in 2016, which was the deadliest year since 2007.


“We are encouraged by the reduction in fatalities, and we thank the traveling public for making choices behind the wheel, like buckling up and driving sober, that prevent the loss of life on Kentucky highways,” said Jason Siwula, acting director of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.

“It doesn’t go unnoticed that this year we observed that seat belt usage increased and fatalities decreased.”


According to data from the University of Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky’s seat belt usage rate rose from 86.8 percent in 2017 to 89.9 percent in 2018. 


“While this achievement demonstrates safety is trending in the right direction, a single fatality is frankly one too many on our roadways,” Siwula stated. “We are committed to continuing work with our local, state, federal and private industry highway safety partners until this number is zero.”


The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety says the 2018 total will remain preliminary until all highway crash data is collected.  A final report is expected to be issued in April.


As of Friday, there have been 44 fatal traffic crashes on Kentucky roads.

Kentucky Office of Highway Safety


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