2024's highway fatalities were 707. Graph provided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Highway deaths in Kentucky are at the lowest they have been in a decade, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Recently, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there were 707 highway deaths in 2024, which is 107 deaths less than in 2023.
“These numbers mean fewer families have had to deal with such a painful loss, and it’s welcome news,” Beshear said. “By working together, we can ensure everyone traveling on Kentucky’s roadways makes it home safely. Let’s keep doing all we can to prevent tragedies – like buckling up, driving distraction-free and slowing down.”
Seatbelts remain drivers ” best chance of preventing injury or death if involved in a crash,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated. The cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety and Kentucky State Police stated 47 percent of the 707 deaths — roughly 332 — were not wearing a seatbelt.
“A seat belt spreads the force of a crash over a wide area of the body, putting less stress on any one part, and allows the body to slow down with the crash, extending the time when the crash forces are felt by the occupant,” the administration stated.
Nineteen percent involved alcohol, roughly 33 percent involved “aggressive drivers,” 22 percent involved distracted driving and 110 — or approximately 16 percent — involved pedestrians or bicyclists. Motorcyclists accounted for 96 deaths.
“One of the hardest tasks for law enforcement is notifying a family that their loved one has been in a fatal crash. So, if we can potentially save a life by enforcing traffic laws, we’ll do it,” said KSP Major Eric Walker. “At the end of the day, it’s not about writing tickets; it’s about ensuring everyone makes it home safely.”
So far in 2025, numbers from Kentucky’s Office of Highway Safety indicate 215 roadway deaths; at this time in 2024 the total was 294.
In addition to encouraging safe driving behaviors, the transportation cabinet is enhancing safety for all users through infrastructure projects and programs aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries on our highways, roads and streets, like the wrong-way driving prevention project launched last year or the “safer road solutions by implementing roundabouts, Restricted Crossing U-Turns and other safety-focused designs.”
“We’re asking motorists and passengers to commit to safe driving behaviors when behind the wheel, such as buckling up, putting the phone down, obeying the speed limit and driving sober,” said transportation secretary Jim Gray. “This helps keep our roadways safe, not only for those in vehicles, but for all road users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.”
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