“These are not just statistics,” Utah Highway Patrol Colonel Michael Rapich said. “These are horrible, tragic events that involve violent tragedy.”
State troopers, including Rapich, are there to witness these deaths, witness the gruesome injuries, tell families that a loved one didn’t arrive home safely. They also know that more than 90% of these crashes would be prevented, Rapich said, if the drivers weren’t speeding, weren’t intoxicated, weren’t distracted with their phones.
Seventy-four people who died were not wearing seatbelts. About 12% of Utahns don’t wear seatbelts, Braceras said, even though they are the “simplest, easiest” way to reduce serious injuries or death.Up more than 15% since 2020, last year saw the highest number of deaths in nearly two decades when 329 people died in 2002, according to UDOT and UHP data released Wednesday.
“When you’re driving a car, that is probably the most dangerous thing anyone will ever do,” Braceras said.“It’s discouraging,” Utah Safety Council president John Wojciechowski said. “Just when you think you’re making headway, then we have a year like this, and it’s tough.”“People over the last two years have been dealing with stuff they’ve never dealt with before,” Braceras said.
Education: Help drivers better understand the shoulds and should-nots of driving, as human error is a factor in more than 90% of crashes. Zero Fatalities will launch a year-long campaign this month focused on the beauty of Utah and the fun to be had around the state so long as you arrive safely, program manager Kristen Hoschouer said.
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