Transportation officers have reported almost twice as many individuals died in alcohol-involved crashes on Utah roads final yr in comparison with the yr earlier than, regardless of much less commuter visitors throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
The state Division of Transportation mentioned there have been 61 deadly crashes involving alcohol final yr in comparison with the 32 crashes in 2019, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Division officers mentioned there was additionally an 11% improve in visitors fatalities within the state from 2019 to 2020, which incorporates deadly alcohol-involved crashes. Nationally, there was a 7% improve in visitors fatalities over the previous yr and a 9% improve in alcohol-involved fatalities, in line with the U.S. Division of Transportation.
Robert Miles, director of visitors and security for the U.S. Division of Transportation, mentioned it’s too quickly to know why deadly crashes elevated. He mentioned the sample has shocked everybody, together with visitors consultants.
“I believe most individuals thought if there may be much less visitors on the road there can be fewer fatalities, there can be fewer crashes,” he mentioned. “We noticed fewer crashes, however we noticed extra deadly crashes.”
Miles mentioned it’s attainable folks started taking extra dangers whereas driving due to further highway house created by lowered visitors. However he additionally mentioned not each sort of deadly crash elevated within the final yr – fatalities involving giant vans went down by 18% in Utah and a pair of% within the U.S.
Officers mentioned the rise in driving deaths has continued into this yr, with 122 deaths in Utah as of June 9. There have been 97 deaths throughout the identical timeframe in 2020 and 93 deaths in 2019.
“This stuff don’t must occur. I would really like folks to know that,” Miles mentioned. “We don’t need to use the phrase `accident,’ as a result of this stuff don’t must occur, they’re not fated to occur.”
Miles urged folks to proceed following highway indicators and never pace or drink and drive. He referenced decrease fatality numbers in years previous as proof that issues can enhance.
“Our previous habits has proven us we are able to do higher, we don’t must lose these lives,” Miles mentioned.
