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TAYLORSVILLE — AAA estimates that Labor Day travel could jump 9% from levels recorded last year, putting an impressive cap on what it calls a "record-breaking, blockbuster" summer travel season.
Utah transportation officials expect that the Beehive State will be no exception as residents take advantage of what is often considered the unofficial end of summer. However, they're also urging drivers to be extra careful on roads this weekend after an unwanted uptick in roadway deaths during the "100 Deadliest Days" period.
"So many people will be out celebrating one of the last weekends of summer, and that brings a lot of extra traffic. It's more important than ever to focus on safe driving," said Robert Miles, traffic and safety director for the Utah Department of Transportation, in a statement.
As of Thursday, there have already been 95 fatalities on Utah roadways dating back to the Memorial Day weekend. That's a 17% increase from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend last year, during the normally 102-day period.
A record 49 deaths were reported in July alone from 42 different fatal traffic crashes. This year is closer to the uptick reported after a decade-low 61 fatalities in 2019. The state averaged about 101 fatalities — almost one per day — between 2020 and 2022 before the 2023 dropoff.
The deaths this summer include 24 motorcyclists, 13 pedestrians and three bicyclists. Most of this year's traffic fatalities remain under investigation with contributing factors to be determined, but authorities say speeding is one of the major trends among known factors.
Thirty-seven of the deaths this summer have been attributed to speeding, which is by far the most among listed contributing factors, according to Utah Department of Public Safety data. Eleven deaths were attributed to not wearing seat belts, while seven involved alcohol or drugs and three were attributed to distracted driving.
UDOT officials released the preliminary data early because of how busy Utah roadways might be during the holiday weekend. The agency projects that drivers could face delays of up to 10 minutes on northbound I-15 in Davis County and 15 to 20 minutes on southbound I-15 in Salt Lake County and the Nephi area at points Friday afternoon and early evening because of the amount of traveling anticipated within the state.
Big delays are also possible on northbound I-15 near Nephi and westbound U.S. 6 on Monday, as people return from their holiday weekend getaways.
Utah Department of Public Safety spokesman Jason Mettmann says he hopes people who plan to travel this weekend will buckle up, put their phones away, slow down and remain calm behind the wheel.
"Take responsibility for planning ahead and arranging for a safe and sober ride home," he added. "We all need to do a better job, not only looking out for ourselves but for everyone else on the road."
