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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has entered its 100 deadliest days of summer. The span between Memorial Day and Labor Day historically sees an increase in road fatalities.
This year looks to be no exception. According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, six fatalities were reported over the holiday weekend. Warmer weather and long holiday weekends bring more motorists to the road.
“We can’t stress enough the importance of slowing down, driving sober, buckling up, putting the distractions down, and driving alert and level-headed,” a statement from Utah Highway Patrol said.
In 2021, Utah saw 103 fatalities in 102 days. The UHP hopes to flatten the curve of fatalities by adding extra shifts. Those shifts will focuse on DUIs, speeding, and seatbelts.
Zero Fatalities, a program run by the Utah Department of Transportation and DPS, cites multiple factors that lead to dangerous situations on the road. Impaired driving was the largest contributing factor in crash-related deaths followed closely by speed.
Impaired drivers took 151 lives in 2021 and 106 deaths were attributed to speeding.
Other factors that lead to accidents during Utah’s deadliest days include distracted and aggressive driving as well as new teen drivers.
Utah has experienced a rash of auto-pedestrian accidents in recent months. Many of these resulted in pedestrian deaths. The increase in accidents prompted Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall to announce new measures to address the issue.
Those issues include a new partnership between the city and the Zero Fatalities program, and the creation of a “Safe Streets Task Force.” The task force will look within the driving areas of the city to create a safer driving atmosphere.
The UHP plans to implement more DUI enforcement and “click it or ticket” enforcement during the “Utah deadliest days” as well.