Utah sees a 17% jump in summer traffic fatalities
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More people have died on Utah roads so far this summer than last year's, preliminary figures show.
Why it matters: The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends marks the "100 deadliest days" for Utah drivers, and state officials say these deaths are preventable.
- Speed, distracted driving and impairment have played significant roles in some of the crashes.
By the numbers: 184 people have been killed on Utah roads between Jan. 1 and Aug. 28.
- 95 of those fatalities have happened since Memorial Day weekend, up 17% from the same time last year, according to data released Thursday by the state transportation and public safety departments.
- 81 people died last year between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
- Nearly three times more pedestrians have been killed so far this summer than last (13 vs. 4).
What they're saying: "That's almost one a day," said Kristen Hoschouer, UDOT zero fatalities program manager.
Between the lines: Men made up 73% of the fatalities, while women accounted for 23%.
- Men are more likely than women to display unsafe driving conduct, like speeding on the freeway, tailgating and making rude gestures or honking at a driver, per the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
- UDOT launched a campaign in June targeting male drivers by asking women to rate the "ick factor" of aggressive behaviors like flipping someone off.
Flashback: The summer of 2015 holds the record for fatalities in the past decade, with 111 deaths.
What's next: As Labor Day nears, state officials are making a plea to drive safely and be cautious.