Utah hits record low number of traffic fatalities in 2010

SALT LAKE CITY — Increased seat belt use is believed to be a major reason for fewer deaths on Utah's roads last year — the lowest number of traffic fatalities in more than three decades.

However, a lack of seat belt use contributed to at least 40 percent of the 235 deaths on Utah's roads during 2010. Unnecessary deaths, according to Utah Highway Patrol Major Mike Rapich.

"It amazes me that some people still fail to wear their seat belts," he said, adding that in the future, the UHP will "make extra efforts to focus on helping the public understand just how important it is to buckle up."

In 2010, traffic fatalities were down 37 percent from 2000. Most of the deaths were due to improper restraint, or lack of seat belt use, while the second-leading cause of death on Utah's roads was related to speeding.

Holidays, when roads are more heavily traveled, accounted for 16 of the deaths that occurred last year and 192 of those who died were Utahns, while 37 were from out of state and 6 unspecified. Most of the fatalities occurred when roads were at their driest state, but 49 deaths happened when roads were wet or snowy, according to a report released Wednesday by UHP and the Utah Department of Transportation.

"We do our best to engineer the roads for safety and make improvements that will prevent crashes, but there's only so much that we can do," said UDOT deputy director Carlos Braceras. He said some choices are left to the drivers.

"We can't make you put down that cell phone. We can't make you give the keys to someone who hasn't been drinking. We can't make you put on your seat belt. That's up to everyone who gets in a car," Braceras said. "Reducing crashing on our roads is a shared responsibility."

The largest number of deaths, 60, came from a group of drivers between the ages of 25 and 39, while 48 people between the ages of 15 and 24, died as a result of a traffic accident.

By far, the most road deaths occurred in Salt Lake County, and on I-15, while U.S. Route 6, that runs through Utah County, remains Utah's second-deadliest byway.

While the agencies are working toward "Zero Fatalities" across the state, officials were encouraged by the decreasing number of deaths on Utah's roads. Last year boasted the lowest number since 1974.

The decreasing numbers of deaths came with increased enforcement of aggressive and drunk driving behaviors in the past year, but Braceras said distracted driving is causing more and more deaths, which remains an area of concern for officials policing Utah's roads.

The complete 2010 traffic fatalities report will soon be available online, at www.ZeroFatalities.com.

E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com