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SALT LAKE CITY -- Several people have died in traffic accidents on Utah roads during the last two weeks. The Utah Highway Patrol worries that with a holiday weekend approaching, fatalities will increase even more for the year.
Trooper Cameron Roden of the Utah Highway Patrol says, "The last 14 days we've had 11 fatalities, which is close to averaging one a day."
Roden says that's not a good average, especially with Memorial Day weekend and the summer travel season approaching.
"Traffic does tend to pick up. People tend to travel long distances," he points out.
Last year in Utah, 245 people died in traffic accidents, according to the Utah Department of Transportation. That was an 11 percent drop from the previous year and a 34 percent drop since 2000.
If fatal wrecks continue at the recent rate of a death a day, the number of fatalities could jump to more than 300.
Trooper Roden says that's hard to deal with, especially since many of the recent deaths could have been prevented.
"In quite a few, (it was) as simple as not putting a seat belt on." Trooper Cameron Roden
"In quite a few, (it was) as simple as not putting a seat belt on. That can make a difference whether a person lives or dies," he says.
Troopers also say some wrecks could have had a better outcome if drivers would have slowed down. Wet, slick roads caused the driver of a Ford Explorer to lose control and run off of Interstate 70 near Green River Wednesday. A passenger in the vehicle died.
"We've had weather that has been back and forth," Roden says. "Weather has been a factor in a few of these accidents."
With the holiday weekend only two weeks away, troopers remind drivers to buckle up, avoid drinking and driving, and make sure they're not driving while drowsy.
Roden says drivers also can stay safe on road trips by avoiding distractions like cell phones -- both texting while driving and talking while driving.
"Our goal is zero fatalities," Roden says.
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
