Kentucky highway fatalities declining in 2009
Finally, some good news. Kentucky’s Office of Highway Safety reports that the number of people killed on Kentucky’s roadways is declining. Preliminary numbers indicate there were 158 fatalities as of March 31, which is 21 fewer than the number killed through March 31 of last year.
“The reduction indicates that we are headed in the right direction,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather, the governor’s designated highway safety representative. “However, 81 out of the 158 fatalities were not wearing seat belts.”
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that seat belts, when worn correctly, reduce the risk of dying by 45 percent for front-seat occupants in passenger cars, and by 60 percent for occupants in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans. 
Joe Prather
“Seat belts clearly save lives, but unfortunately too many folks still need a tough reminder,” said Prather. “That’s why our highway safety office is participating in the aggressive national “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign from May 18 through May 31.”
According to NHTSA, regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.
“The Click It or Ticket campaign is a great way to get people to buckle up,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of the Office of Highway Safety. “By joining with state and local law enforcement, we saturate the state to make sure all drivers and passengers take our primary seat belt law seriously,” said Geveden. Office of Highway Safety records indicate there were 826 fatalities in Kentucky last year, the lowest total since 2000, when the death toll was 823. More than 60 percent of those victims were not restrained.