COVINGTON, Ky. — As the snow and ice season quickly approaches, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is emphasizing road safety and preparations for winter.

“Making sure your tires are in good shape is important,” said Bob Yeager, chief engineer with KYTC District 6. “Driving in snow is like driving in rain. You still need good traction. If your car is not roadworthy, you really need to consider not getting on the roads in bad weather.”

According to the Kentucky Traffic Collison Facts Report, there were 3,090 accidents involving snow and slush in 2022, with seven of those resulting in fatalities.

KYTC is emphasizing the importance of safety by teaming up with Kentucky students. The cabinet’s “Paint and Plow” program is allowing students from Carroll County High School and Randall K. Cooper High School to brighten up the roads and teach essential road safety skills. 

“What we’ve discovered over time is that these young people, they want to contribute,” said Jim Gray, Kentucky’s transportation secretary. “They want to convey creativity and their commitment to safety, which is why we’ve taken on this project.”

Sergeant Matt Sudduth, with the Kentucky State Police, agreed, saying it’s a reminder that keeping everyone safe is a team effort. “These students are extremely talented, and it just goes to show that we are all in this together. We all want to make it to where we’re going safely and be with our families and friends during the holiday season,” he said.

Yeager says it’s all a meant to keep everyone safe. “We want to keep you safe, and keeping you safe keeps the person in front of you safe, the person behind you safe and keeps our employees safe,” he added.

The festive plows serve as a reminder of the part everyone plays in road safety.