Highway fatalities in Kentucky increased last year, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety and the Kentucky State Police. State data shows there were 806 fatalities in 2021, compared to 780 in 2020, a 3.3 percent increase.
According to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, of the 806 highway deaths last year in Kentucky, 54.7 percent were not wearing a seat belt and 15 percent involved alcohol.
Approximately 26 percent involved speeding or aggressive drivers and 15 percent involved driver distraction.
Pedestrians and bicyclists accounted for 85 deaths and motorcyclists accounted for 88 deaths.