The death toll on Kentucky highways is at an all time high and Kentucky State Police want to put the brakes on that. So they're launching a statewide campaign aimed at making everyone safer

OPERATION BLUE LIGHTS

B = Basic traveling safety and vehicle maintenance.

L = Lower speeds in work zone area

U = Undivided attention on the road and look for motorcycles

E = Enforcement of speed, DUI and occupant protection.

here at local six we are following ksp throughout the summer during this initiative and highlighting the worst counties in western kentucky.

We start with graves county, where in 2009 there were 963 crashes. In 2010 they increased to 982 and in 2011 they were down to 949.

"I think it's got to change," says Graves County Sheriff Dewyane Redmon. "I'm very supportive of the initiative. It's a good effort."

Over the summer, KSP and the Graves County Sheriff's office will be more visible. More patrols and more roadblocks on more days. And they're no just looking for speeders and drunk drivers any more, distracted driving is there number 1 enemy.

"most of our fatals come from inattentive drivers. It's a problem that's gotten worse and we'll be out here looking harder and longer for those violators," says Sheriff Redmon.

"That hits you right here, right in your heart," says Graves County Coroner, Phillip McClain.

He's worked countless collisions in Graves County over the last 19 years. In 2000 his job hit too close to home.

"I came upon a single vehicle wreck, three teens inside the car and one turned out to be my niece. It was terrible," says McClain.

The initiative is supposed to reduce these type of fatal crashes. It will run through Labor Day.