Fatal auto-pedestrian crashes: Utahns should ‘take responsibility in our driving’
Nov 7, 2023, 6:00 AM
There have been 32 fatal auto-pedestrian crashes on Utah's roads this year. (Salt Lake City Police Department)
(Salt Lake City Police Department)
SALT LAKE CITY — Fatal auto-pedestrian and wrong-way crashes are high this year.
While there have been fewer pedestrians killed on Utah’s roads this year compared to 2022, law enforcement said even one incident is one too many.
So far there have been 32 fatal auto-pedestrian crashes on Utah’s roads. That’s just 12 less than this time last year. Sgt. Cameron Roden with the Utah Highway Patrol said drivers need to take more personal responsibility to reduce those fatal accidents even more.
“We all need to take responsibility for our driving,” he said. “Whether it be distracted driving, speed-related, we all know the areas where we can improve … to make sure we’re a safer driver.”
Roden said crashes were relatively low until last month.
“October was a rough month for us where we saw at least eight fatal pedestrian crashes.”
Drivers and pedestrians need to be extra cautious heading into the winter months as fall and winter tend to be the more deadly seasons for pedestrian crashes. Roden said crashes are more likely to happen due to slick roads and less daylight.
“The best thing that we can do is try to anticipate that people are going to be out as we’re headed to a time of year where there’s less daylight hours,” he said. “Just make sure that we’re being cautious.”
The Utah Highway Patrol said all drivers and pedestrians need to be extra cautious over the next several months. It wants to reduce fatal crashes and end the year on a good note.
