Gov. Beshear brought checks to McCracken for law enforcement and homeland security.

PADUCAH, Ky. (Feb. 10, 2011) – Gov. Steve Beshear presented three Homeland Security and two Highway Safety grants to Paducah and McCracken County officials during a ceremony Thursday at the McCracken County Courthouse.

Two grants were awarded to McCracken County Fiscal Court -- $13,700 to purchase mobile-data computers and $27,000 for hazmat detection/monitoring systems. The city of Paducah was granted $170,000 for the bomb-squad equipment.

“These grants help ensure our first responders have the latest and best tools to keep our Commonwealth safe and secure,” Gov. Beshear said.

Gov. Beshear also presented highway safety grants of $44,627 to the Paducah Police Department and $12,450 to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office for programs to curb impaired driving, speeding and other dangerous driving practices. They will also help to educate the public on the necessity of child safety seats and seatbelt usage.

“While I am pleased that highway fatalities in Kentucky have decreased every year I have been Governor, we must remain vigilant in attacking these dangerous driving practices,” said Gov. Beshear. 

Law enforcement funding can be used for overtime enforcement and equipment.  The federally funded grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are administered by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, which is part of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

According to preliminary statistics, there were 759 highway fatalities in Kentucky in 2010 of which 597 were people in motor vehicles. Of those killed, 62.5 percent were not buckled up. Twenty percent of fatalities involved alcohol. Motorcyclists accounted for 78 fatalities. More than 57 percent of those killed in motorcycle crashes were not wearing helmets and 15.4 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes involved alcohol.

Total highway fatalities by year:           

            2000    823

            2001    843

            2002    915

            2003    928

            2004    964

            2005    985

            2006    913

            2007    864

            2008    826

            2009    791

            2010    759

Information on the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety is at http://highwaysafety.ky.