A deputy with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office was honored last week alongside over 100 state and local law enforcement officers and child passenger safety personnel for their outstanding efforts in ensuring the safety of drivers and passengers on Kentucky highways.
The annual Governor’s Occupant Protection Enforcement Awards, held last week at the Campbell House in Louisville, celebrated the efforts of Kentuckians from 130 different agencies.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety presented the awards to individuals with the highest number of occupant protection citations in each agency and division from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
In the Division I Law Enforcement Safety Awards, which includes agencies with 1-10 officers, Lyon County Deputy Sheriff David Carroll was honored as one of the top division winners and received a plaque.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, correctly worn seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 45% for front-seat occupants and by 60% in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. The organization said properly installed child restraints lower the risk of fatal injuries by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers in passenger and by 58% for infants and 59% for toddlers in light trucks, SUVs, and minivans.
Authorities reported that each year, over half of the fatalities on Kentucky’s roads involve individuals who were not properly restrained by a seat belt, car seat, or booster seat. They also noted that Kentucky’s current seat belt usage rate is 86.9%.
