Kentucky's highway fatalities rose to highest level in 7 years

Highway fatalities in Kentucky increased in 2023 with 813 deaths, the highest total since 2016. That's up from 744 in 2022, according to statistics from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

They also indicate that more than half of the fatalities included drivers and passengers who were not wearing seat belts.

KYTC said one out of six fatalities involved alchohol. About one third involved speeding or aggressive drivers, and 20 percent of the drivers were distracted.

Pedestrians and bicyclists accounted for 137 deaths and motorcyclists accounted for 105.

Western Kentucky counties reversed the trend, with fatalities falling from 52 in 2022 to 48 last year:

Ballard         1 in 2023     6 in 2022
Caldwell       6                 2
Calloway      9                 5
Carlisle         2                 0
Crittenden     5                0
Fulton           0                 2
Graves          2                6
Hickman       2                4
Livingston     1                3
Lyon             2                4
McCracken   7                7
Marshall        7                7
Trigg             4                6


So far in 2024, statewide preliminary numbers indicate 170 roadway deaths, down 14 percent compared with the same time last year.



(AP file photo)

On the Net:

KYTC database of county fatalities since 2017