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Highway fatalities up in Kentucky in 2023

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says there were 813 highway fatalities on Kentucky roadways in 2023, an increase from the 744 seen in 2022.

The KYTC’s Office of Highway Safety says in those fatal accidents, 51 percent of victims were not wearing a seatbelt. 33 percent of the accidents involved speeding or aggressive driving, 20 percent involved distracted drivers, and 16 percent involved alcohol.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says wearing a seatbelt is the single most effective way of preventing injury or death in a traffic accident. Seatbelt use and the dangers of drunk driving continue to be the primary subjects of most public awareness campaigns.

The KYTC says it continues to focus on infrastructure projects that improve safety for everybody on the roadway, including a pilot project set to begin this summer that will test systems that detect and deter wrong-way crashes along select interstate ramps in Fayette and Jefferson counties. 

Preliminary numbers for 2024 report 170 roadway deaths, which is down more than 13 percent compared to this time last year.

Clean around appliances and check on dryer lent to help reduce fire risk

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Spring is in full swing, and people are sprucing up their houses and yards as they welcome the warmer weather.

Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says as you go about your spring cleaning, don’t forget about your appliances.

“Just make sure that when you’re cleaning, clean places that you might not normally like behind refrigerators or dryers, a lot of those that have motors where the dust and things like that can build up,” Crane said. “Try to clean those, vacuum around and behind those at least once a year.”

Crane says not only does it reduce the risk for fire, it also helps extend the life of the appliance.

While cleaning your dryer, don’t forget about making sure lent isn’t building up.

“We tell you always make sure you’re cleaning the lint filter during each time you dry, but also during the spring, maybe pull the dryer out, clean the hose or the pipe that goes to the outside of the house to make sure that’s clean and free of lint because that will build up and could cause a fire,” Crane said.

Also check to make sure the dryer exhaust outside the house is clear, as there is potential for it to become clogged due to lent and animals or other pests.

“Just make sure that it’s free and clear, that it’s got good air movement,” Crane said. “If you do live in an area where, say, birds and other pests are a problem, and you put a screen over there, make sure you’re checking the screen because the lint will build up even easier there.”

More fire safety tips can be found on the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.