Highway Safety Program

In 2022—the most recent year for which data is available— 744 people were killed in 693 fatal traffic collisions on Kentucky’s roadways. Of these deaths, 265 were due to drivers under the influence of drugs and 153 were due to drivers under the influence of alcohol. In addition, crash data shows that half of the people killed were not wearing a seatbelt. 

Each year the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety awards grant money to local law enforcement agencies to pay overtime for deputies to work extra hours conducting traffic enforcement. The goal is to make our roadways safer. Specifically, deputies observe for seatbelt use violations, unsafe driving behavior, and impaired driving infractions. While the money can be spent throughout the year, DCSO also schedules additional patrols during various times of the year when safety campaigns are ongoing. These campaigns include “Click it or Ticket” and “Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over.” 

DCSO also conducts periodic roadside safety checkpoints to observe for infractions. If you encounter a roadside checkpoint, please remain calm, slow down, and follow the deputies’ instructions. You will only be delayed momentarily. These checkpoints are designed to verify a driver’s license and registration status. But, if a deputy working a checkpoint observes other infractions, they are authorized to address them by issuing a warning, citation, or possibly by making arrest depending on the severity of the infraction. Hint: Drunk drivers will go to jail. 

Our next roadside checkpoints are scheduled for Saturday August 24th and September 6th, 2024, at one of the following locations: Highway 405 near Eastview Elementary School, Highway 431 at the intersection of Highway 554, or Highway 81 at the intersection of Keller Road. 

Please remember to buckle up, driver sober, and put your phone down while driving.