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SALT LAKE CITY — With Utah roads' "100 Deadliest Days" ending over Labor Day weekend, safety advocates urge locals to refocus on zero fatalities. During this time, beginning on Memorial Day, 12 more people died this year than last year, and state safety advocates want to turn that around.
"It's not counting gadgets," said Sgt. Todd Royce of the Utah Highway Patrol. "It's serious for us."
During the period from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, 109 people died on Utah highways, 12 more than last year.
"Twelve more fatalities, 12 more families grieving over a traffic accident or a fatality than last year," said Royce.
Fatalities so far in 2015 also outpace 2014's numbers. For the second straight year, Utah's highway fatalities are rising after a dozen years of dramatic decline.
"These last two years we are seeing a trend upwards, and that's concerning to us," said Royce.
So far in 2015, 196 people have died on Utah roads, up from 179 at this time in 2014.
"We're heading in the wrong direction," said UDOT spokesman John Gleason. "It's not only frustrating, it's incredibly heartbreaking."
When troopers talk about this issue before going on patrol, "We talk specifics," said Royce. "Let's find that one person who may be exceeding the speed limit drastically that's going to crash, and see if we can change that behavior."
We're heading in the wrong direction. It's not only frustrating, it's incredibly heartbreaking.
–John Gleason, UDOT spokesman
They know that getting a drunk or distracted driver off the road can save lives, and so can urging one more motorist to buckle up.
"It's shocking to see the number of people who still don't buckle up," said Gleason.
State statistics show nearly 15 percent of Utahns still do not buckle up. But, 57 percent of the people killed on Utah roads so far this year were not buckled in properly.
"People may be tired of us talking about the importance of wearing a seat belt," said Gleason. "We're tired of people dying."
"Make sure you wear your seat belt," said Royce. "Watch your speed. Don't drive impaired."
