UDOT says more lives are being lost despite fewer cars on the road

SALT LAKE CITY — Even though fewer people are getting behind the wheel since the pandemic began a year ago, more people are dying because of traffic crashes, state data indicates.

The Utah Department of Transportation reported Monday that preliminary estimates show that traffic fatalities in 2020 climbed 11% to 276. This was despite the fact the number of cars on the road fell by 13% last year.

With traffic fatalities rising, proponents of UDOT’s Zero Fatalities campaign are urging Utahns to stop justifying bad driving behaviors and make one small change immediately to save lives on the road.

“That change is going to be different for everyone,” said UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras. “It’s things such as not sending that one text message, or not stopping at a stoplight and looking at that one important email from your boss that you felt you needed to look at.”

He added that decisions such as distracted driving, aggressive driving — including speeding — along with drowsy driving, impaired driving by alcohol, illicit or prescription medications and not wearing seat belts all increase the risk to everyone on Utah roads.

The Beehive State is not alone in this troubling trend.

The Federal Highway Administration reported the number of miles driven on public roads reached its lowest point in nearly 20 years in 2020, while fatalities rose 8% over the previous year, according to the National Safety Council. And Utah isn’t looking much better so far this year as data showed 47 people have died on state roadways as of March 15.

This early in the year, the numbers are unexpected and cause for concern, Braceras said.

“We all agree that we want our roads to be safer. And we can do better, together,” he said. “If each of us makes one small change today like ignoring that text or buckling up, we will save lives. That change will be different for everyone, but we can all do better.”

This week, UDOT and the Department of Public Safety are launching a new campaign to combat the rising number of fatalities.

The campaign is based on new research that offers insight into why Utahns behave the way they do once they get behind the wheel. Braceras said the research overwhelmingly indicates Utahns do care about safety on the roads.

Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Utah Division of Transportation Executive Director Carlos Braceras talks about the increase in traffic fatalities during a press conference at the UDOT building in Taylorsville on Monday, March 15, 2021. As part of their Zero Fatalities initiative, UDOT and the Utah Division of Public Safety are urging Utahns to stop justifying bad behaviors and start making one small change immediately to save lives. According to preliminary estimates from UDOT, traffic fatalities in 2020 increased by 11% to a total of 276, while the number of cars on the road decreased by 13%.

“Even though we see fewer vehicles on the road, we have seen a sharp increase in some of those behaviors,” said Jess Anderson, commissioner of the state Department of Public Safety. “For instance, our 100 miles per hour citations last year in 2020 were up 45% over the previous two years. Wrong-way crashes — meaning wrong-way drivers — were up 15%, while (driving under the influence) arrests were up nearly a 10% from the previous year.”

He added that the number of drivers who choose not to stop at the flashing lights (or command) of a police officer (resulting in) getting into a vehicle pursuit jumped 50% over the previous year.

“Those are alarming statistics,” Anderson said. “We are calling upon all people today to make better decisions, better choices. Be aware, be self-aware and understanding of those around you. Be cautious, be careful, slow down and take your time to get to your destination safely.

Understand that the decisions you make, whether it’s to go out and drink an alcoholic beverage, we would ask you to be wise with that decision of not driving after that effort. With all of this, we can make a pledge to do better.”

Nationally, bad behaviors contribute to 94% of all crashes, he said. To confront the problem, UDOT and the Department of Public Safety are leading the Zero Fatalities public outreach effort designed to inform and educate the public about the five most deadly driving behaviors, which include distracted driving, speeding and aggressive driving, drowsy driving, impaired driving — including prescription drugs and not wearing seat belts.

He lamented that overconfidence in our safety leads Utahns to make excuses to justify bad behavior. The Zero Fatalities safety campaign will employ television, radio, social media and online advertising, with the underlying message: “Our lies are costing lives.”

“The truth is we need to look at our own behavior and be better drivers,” Anderson said. “We can no longer justify that one text, or not driving the speed limit. One decision can change everything. Let’s all start now.”

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2PYSmJQ