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SALT LAKE CITY -- The Fourth of July weekend and 24th of July have the highest holiday death rates in the state: an average of 1.6 a day on the Fourth and 1.5 a day on Pioneer Day. These numbers come from 10 years of data kept by the Utah Department of Public Safety.
"They compiled the fatalities for all the holiday weekends, said Trooper Cameron Roden, spokesman for the Utah Department of Public Safety.
So what makes Independence Day and Pioneer Day so deadly? Roden says there are several reasons.
"There's a lot of people out on the roadways. It's summertime, good weather, so a lot of people are going on vacation, going to different events for the holiday," he said.
Most of the danger is on the roads.
"We tend to see more accidents, more severe accidents, during those times," Roden said.
He says there's not one factor that is to blame for the roadway deaths; it's a combination of things.
"From fatigue, DUI, people not wearing seat belts, following too closely, a lot of different areas that are covered," Roden said.
Last year alone, there were three deaths a day over the Fourth of July weekend. Troopers don't want that to happen again this weekend, so they have some advice.
"One of our biggest suggestions is just the simple act of wearing your seat belt. Your odds of surviving go up tremendously when you wear your seat belt," Roden said.
They also suggest that if you're drinking, call a cab or get a ride home with a sober friend. And if you're making a road trip, make sure you get enough rest.
"If you are going to be traveling, make sure you're not driving fatigued. Make sure you pull over and get some sleep," Roden said.
One more thing to watch out for that you only have to during the July holidays: Make sure your focus is on the road, not on the fireworks.
The holiday weekend with the lowest mortality rate over the past decade New Year's. It's death rate is 0.5.
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
