Busy and dangerous Memorial Day Weekend expected for Utah travelers

SALT LAKE CITY — In response to the American Car Affiliation, almost 40 million People are anticipated to hit the highway and drive a minimum of 50 miles this upcoming Memorial Day Weekend.

These numbers are up greater than 8% from final 12 months and almost again to pre-pandemic journey ranges.

Together with extra vacationers, extra lives are being misplaced on the highway. In response to federal officers, simply shy of 43,000 folks misplaced their lives in automobile accidents in 2021, which is a ten% improve over the earlier 12 months.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg referred to as the rising variety of site visitors deaths a disaster on our roadways.

In Utah, there was a latest uptick in reckless and aggressive driving that’s resulted in quite a few and useless accidents leading to demise and damage.

“We’re seeing extra circumstances of impaired driving, distraction, dashing, that aggressive driving,” stated John Gleason with the Utah Division of Transportation. “So reckless driving conduct is actually on the rise and that’s one thing we’d warning all people to be careful for. Not solely yourselves as drivers, however be careful for these different drivers on the highway who’re performing recklessly, particularly particularly for those who’re heading out for Memorial Day Weekend.”

As of earlier this week, UDOT is reporting greater than 100 crashes leading to 113 lives misplaced on Utah roads this 12 months, with six folks killed in site visitors accidents simply final week.

Officers warn that penalties for driving distracted, drowsy, impaired or dashing are actual penalties.

Utah Freeway Patrol troopers are set to kick off their “Click on It or Ticket” marketing campaign and might be out in pressure over the vacation. On prime of that, 52 regulation enforcement companies all through the state will work 480 further shifts to cease and educate motorists who aren’t sporting a seat belt.

Memorial Day can also be the beginning of the so-called 100 Deadliest Days of Summer season, so drivers are urged to bear in mind, watch out and decelerate when out on the highway.