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SALT LAKE CITY — The number of people who died on Utah roads fell again in 2023 after a large spike over the past three years. But an alarming rise in road rage cases also emerged that Utah transportation and safety leaders say they want to eliminate in 2024.
Last year, 279 people died on Utah roads, nearly a 13% decrease from the previous year, according to preliminary data released by the Utah Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety on Tuesday. The number of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles driven also dropped from 0.93 to 0.80, the lowest since 2019.
Utah Public Safety Commissioner Jess Anderson said the data included several other welcomed year-to-year declines, including a 22% drop in deaths tied to people not wearing seat belts, a 10% decline in speed-related deaths and a 6% decrease in impaired-related deaths, as well as drops in motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian deaths.
The number of children ages 0-9 who died in crashes dropped from 12 in 2022 to four in 2023, but the number of fatalities in children age 10 and older rose slightly from 32 to 38. It was about the only major increase last year.
The overall decrease in fatalities, Anderson says, is more than just a statistic.
"These are lives and lives that we are affecting anytime we can make a difference," he said.
Utah's roadway fatalities were on a downward trajectory before an uptick in 2020. Roadway fatalities reached 332 in 2021, which was, at the time, the first time that more than 300 people were killed on Utah roads since 2003. There was a slight 4% decrease in road fatalities in 2022 before an even larger drop last year.
Tackling road rage
While aggressive-related fatalities also fell, from 28 in 2022 to 23 in 2023, Anderson said police continue to see a "sharp increase" in aggressive driving behaviors that put other drivers and other roadway users at risk. This includes a rising number of cases involving weapons and intentional crashes.
"The issue with road rage is serious and it affects everyone on the road. It can lead to dangerous situations, crashes and increased stress when driving," he said. "That type of aggression is not tolerated or allowed here in the state of Utah."
To that end, UDOT and Department of Public Safety officials launched a new public service campaign that focuses solely on road rage after similar PSAs targeted other unsafe behaviors like speeding and impaired driving in recent years.
The new Blink of an Eye campaign, which will be promoted through various broadcast forms, encourages drivers to remain calm and patient on the roadways, while also highlighting the consequences of road rage behavior.
Kristen Hoschouer, UDOT's safety outreach administrator, said the friends and family of Rodney Salm, a Salt Lake man who was killed when the vehicle he was driving was struck by another vehicle engaged in a reported road rage incident in Eagle Mountain last year, helped UDOT create the ad.
"This video illustrates some of the real-life ramifications that can happen when you engage in road rage behaviors," Hoschouer said.
Officials note that mental health is often a key component in road rage cases. Depression, anxiety, fear and frustration are some of the emotions someone may feel when an incident — intentional or accidental — can spark anger and lead to road rage, said Amanda McNab, the quality improvement and training manager at the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute.
The new campaign provides a handful of tips for drivers to consider when they begin to feel anger. These include:
- Take deep breaths and remind yourself to stay patient. McNab said this can allow enough time for someone to think about the consequences of certain actions, while also helping them cool down.
- Practice other relaxation techniques like tapping on a steering wheel or playing upbeat or calming music.
- Limit distractions to stay focused on the road.
- Avoid tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, cutting off drivers or other aggressive driving behaviors that can provoke other drivers.
- Practice courtesy on the road and do not retaliate after an incident.
"We want to make sure that people on the roadways have the opportunity to release that in a positive way, utilizing some of the same coping skills that we suggest using when dealing with those same feelings and emotions outside of being in a car," McNab said.
Road rage also figures to be one of the many topics handled during the upcoming legislative session. Utah lawmakers unveiled a proposal in November that calls for stiffer penalties for road rage cases. These include the possibility of license revocation.
