Take Care Utah! We’re In The “100 Deadliest Days”

The Utah Department of Public Safety, along with the Utah Department of Transportation are teaming up to ask Utah drivers to get Back to Basics. They announced this program just ahead of Memorial Day, which is a start of the “100 Deadliest Days” in Utah.

If you haven't heard of it before, the "100 Deadliest Days" in Utah is a term that highlights a particularly dangerous period on the state's roads, spanning from Memorial Day in late May to Labor Day in early September. This time frame is notorious for a significant increase in traffic-related fatalities and accidents. As families embark on vacations, teenagers enjoy their break from school, and the weather invites more people to travel and engage in outdoor activities, the roads become busier and, unfortunately, more perilous.

This annual phenomenon sees a spike in traffic volume as well as riskier driving behaviors. Factors contributing to the increased danger during these 100 days include higher instances of speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. With more vehicles on the road, the chances of accidents rise, exacerbated by the sometimes lax attitude towards safety that accompanies the summer months.Law enforcement agencies and safety organizations in Utah emphasize this period to raise public awareness and promote safer driving practices. Campaigns often include increased police patrols, sobriety checkpoints, and public service announcements aimed at reminding drivers of the importance of wearing seatbelts, observing speed limits, and avoiding distractions such as mobile phones.

As mentioned, the campaign this year is being called Back to Basics.The aim is to remind drivers in Utah's highways to prioritize safe driving. According to the campaign, the top four reasons for crashes on highways in Utah are following too closely, failing to yield right of way, driving too fast for conditions, and making unsafe lane changes and failing to stay in the proper lane while driving.

Officials are challenging Utah drivers to test their knowledge of basic safety rules by taking a quiz which you can do by clicking here. I'd like to tell you I aced the quiz, but there were a couple of questions I missed (one by overthinking).

Statistics underline the gravity of the situation. According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, the number of fatal crashes during these 100 days can be disproportionately high compared to the rest of the year.

The need for safe driving may best be related by the experience of Cody Laycock. Laycock was 23 back in 2021 when he and a cousin were leaving a family gathering, and Cody wanted to show his cousin how well his new Audi could handle. He took a corner at an intersection at full throttle, started to drift and lost control. His car veered into oncoming traffic and hit a vehicle head on. Two of the three passengers in that car were killed, and the third will experience life long injuries.

“What I did was wrong,” Cody told UDOT. “How I chose to drive that night was stupid. I take accountability for what I did and I always will. That’ll stay with me for the rest of my life, I’ll never forget that night.” Cody is currently still serving time at the Central Utah Correctional facility with hopes that others will understand the repercussions that come from poor choices while driving.

The "100 Deadliest Days" serves as a critical reminder of the need for heightened awareness and caution. By adhering to safe driving practices and staying informed about the risks, Utahns can help reduce the number of tragedies on the road during this hazardous period.