State officials recently recognized more than 100 state and local law enforcement officers, including officers from Williamsburg, Barbourville, Laurel County and London, along with child passenger safety personnel, for their outstanding efforts to safeguard drivers and passengers on Kentucky highways.
The annual Governor’s Occupant Protection Enforcement Awards, which were held at the Campbell House in Lexington, highlighted the efforts of Kentuckians representing 130 different agencies.
“Both our law enforcement professionals and child passenger safety experts play a crucial role in protecting our families, by making sure everyone is properly secured with seat belts and that children are in the appropriate car seats and boosters,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Their vital work is saving lives, and as Governor and a dad, I am grateful for their unwavering dedication to our state and its residents.”
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) presented the awards to those with the most occupant protection citations in each agency and in each division from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Award recipients received a plaque, while the top division winners were presented with the Highway Safety All-Star Award – a commemorative baseball bat from Louisville Slugger.
Local winners included: Williamsburg Police Officer Chad Foley, Barbourville Patrolman Charles Patterson, Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Noah Ritchie, London Police Officer Andrew Lawson, Kentucky State Police (KSP) CVE East Inspector II Justin Kilgore, and KSP Post 11 (London) Trooper Justin Vanhook.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts, when worn correctly, are proven to reduce the risk of fatal injuries to front-seat occupants by 45 percent and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans. Also, according to NHTSA, properly installed child restraints reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars. In light trucks, SUVs and minivans, properly deployed child restraints reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 58 percent for infants and 59 percent for toddlers.
Each year more than half of those killed on Kentucky’s roadways are not properly restrained in a seat belt, car seat or booster seat. Kentucky’s current seat belt usage rate is 86.9 percent.
