State officials in Kentucky have honored nearly 100 law enforcement officers and child passenger safety experts for their contributions to highway safety. The Governor’s Occupant Protection Enforcement Awards, held in Lexington, recognized individuals from across the state who have shown dedication to enforcing seat belt and child restraint laws.
Governor Andy Beshear expressed his appreciation for the efforts of these individuals, stating, “There is nothing more important than protecting the lives of our people and I’m proud to recognize leaders who show up every day dedicated to this important work.” He emphasized that their efforts have made Kentucky roads safer.
The awards were presented by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) to those with the highest number of occupant protection citations between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Awardees received plaques, while top division winners were given a commemorative baseball bat from Louisville Slugger as part of the Highway Safety All-Star Award.
The divisions are categorized based on agency size: Division I includes agencies with 1-10 officers; Division II has 11-25 officers; Division III consists of 26-50 officers; Division IV covers agencies with 51-100 officers; Division V includes those with over 100 officers; and Division VI is specifically for the Kentucky State Police.
In addition to law enforcement recognition, KOHS also awarded honors for Technician, Instructor, and CPS Team of the Year. Secretary Jim Gray praised attendees for their life-saving work: “The work you do for the state is critical to protecting Kentuckians, especially our most vulnerable citizens who depend on an adult to keep them safe with every ride.”
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts can reduce fatal injury risk by up to 60% in certain vehicles when used correctly. Child restraints also significantly lower fatal injury risks for infants and toddlers in various vehicle types.
Kentucky reports that about 86.9% of drivers and passengers use seat belts regularly. However, more than half of highway fatalities involve unbelted occupants annually.
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