New data released Wednesday by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Office of Highway Safety showed fatal crashes on the state's highways increased to over 800 last year.According to the report, 823 people died in Kentucky highway crashes in 2023, up from 744 in 2022. It was the highest number of deaths on the highway since 2016.KYTC said over 50 percent of the fatalities were the result of people not wearing a seatbelt, and 16 percent of crashes involved alcohol.“Any life lost on a Kentucky road is one too many, especially those that could have been prevented,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “We can all commit to buckling up, staying aware and driving sober and distraction-free, and Team Kentucky is committed to continuing to build safer bridges and roadways so we can reach our goal of zero traffic deaths.” So far, in 2024, preliminary numbers indicate 170 roadway deaths, down 13.7 percent compared with the same time last year.