The number of traffic-related fatalities continues to decreasein Kentucky, with the current year pacing at the lowest numberreported since the 1940s.

By mid-December, fewer than 600 traffic-related deaths had beenreported in the state, according to the Kentucky State Police.During the same period in 2012 and 2011, there were 746 and 713road fatalities, respectively. When 2010 and 2009 figures are takeninto account—754 and 777 deaths—an overall declining trend becomesevident.

So why are roads a bit safer these days in the Bluegrass state?Some sources largely attribute the decline in traffic-relatedfatalities to more stringent seatbelt laws and enforcement. Onenotable development on this front came in 2006, with the passage ofmandatory seat belt requirements.

According to KRS 189.125(6), a “person shall not operate a motorvehicle manufactured after 1981 on the public roadways of[Kentucky] unless the driver and all passengers are wearing aproperly adjusted and fastened seat belt.”The law further outlineschild restraints, the details of which can be found here. eatbeltrequirements.

Although the ultimate goal would be to eradicate road deathsaltogether, this news from the Bluegrass state is welcome followinga comparatively depressing report issued by the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in November. The NHTSA findings pointed to an increase in U.S. motor vehiclecrashes and fatalities in 2012 after 6 consecutive years ofdeclines. That year, the nation lost 33,561 people in crashes onroadways, compared to 32,479 in 2011. This represented the firstincrease in such deaths since 2005, when there were 43,105 U.S.road fatalities.

The uptick in crashes, and the resulting fatalities andinjuries, can be seen across many crash characteristics, includingvehicle type, contributing factors, including alcohol impairment,and location of crash. The NHTSA adds the increase does not seem tobe“associated with any one particular issue.

There was one traffic-related death reported on Dec. 25th thisyear, according to the Kentucky State Police's website.