Each year, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety publishes the somewhat sobering number of traffic fatalities that occurred in the previous year.

The newest figure was just released and it looks as if 2016 had a higher number of traffic fatalities than 2015.

In fact, the number increased by 73.

In 2015, 761 people were killed on Kentucky roads, whereas there were 834 deaths in 2016.

Also, 2016 had the highest number of fatalities since 2007 when there were 864 traffic-related deaths.

The news release issued by the KOHS and the Kentucky State Police indicated that more half of those killed in 2016 were not wearing seat belts and nearly 17% of the accidents involved alcohol.

As for early results in 2017, these offices have reported 210 roadway fatalities, which is 16 fewer than from the same point last year.

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