Get Involved: Community Forum On Traffic Safety In Cedar City Tonight!

Public safety leaders from Cedar City and the Utah Department of Public Safety’s Highway Safety Office (UHSO) are hosting an important community forum on traffic safety. Scheduled for tonight, Thursday, October 17, 2024, the event will take place from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hunter Alumni Center on the Southern Utah University campus. Community members are encouraged to attend and share their concerns and suggestions regarding traffic safety.

Representatives from various agencies, including Cedar City Police, Southern Utah University Police, Utah Highway Patrol, Iron County Sheriff’s Office, Utah Department of Transportation, Zero Fatalities, and the Southwest Public Health Department, will be available to listen to public feedback and provide insights into ongoing safety initiatives. This event aims to foster open dialogue between residents and officials to shape future traffic safety programs.

Teen drivers and their parents are specifically encouraged to attend, as Iron County has seen a concerning rise in teen driver-related crashes. Over the past five years, teen drivers accounted for 31.56% of local crashes—10.4% higher than the state average. Other contributing factors include older drivers (17.33%), distracted driving (10.08%), speeding (9.92%), and unrestrained drivers (3.38%).

Chief Darin Adams of the Cedar City Police Department emphasized the importance of community input, stating in a press release, “We are committed to making our streets safer for everyone, and we want to hear directly from the public about the challenges they face on our roadways.”

Robyn LaLumia, Director of the UHSO, added, “Crash data shows that teen drivers are overrepresented in Cedar City. Hearing from the community, especially those impacted by the data, provides an opportunity to improve safety measures.”

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Attendees will have the chance to mark maps with areas of concern and participate in an anonymous survey. Community members who are unable to attend the meeting can take the anonymus survey here. Parking will be available in lots 2 and 3.