A Goal We Can All Live With

If you examine the top five causes of fatalities on Utah's roads, you'll notice that every single cause is human error and can be avoided. Fatal crashes are preventable - not inevitable.

When someone in our community is killed from a violent crime, the result is breaking news coverage, public outcries and a concerted effort to shun those who committed such a crime. However, when someone causes a fatal crash by falling asleep at the wheel, driving recklessly or unbuckled, our community just accepts it as just a "tragic accident." Why? The loss of just one life is unacceptable. We need to be as vigilant at ridding our communities of unsafe driving behavior, just as we do with violent criminals. We won't stop until we reach Zero Fatalities - it's a goal we can all live with.

The Zero Fatalities program is a united effort from the federal government, state organizations, and pubic and private businesses that attacks the top five contributing factors to fatalities on Utah roads: drowsy driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, impaired driving and not buckling up. This extensive public education program is designed to convince adults, teens, children, community, business and political leaders why we need to change today's driving behaviors. We need to adopt the philosophy of Zero Fatalities for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

Over the past five years there has been a steady decline of fatalities in Utah. Even though there are more people living in Utah and people are driving more, fewer people are losing their lives on Utah's roads. However, the loss of just one life is too many. This is the philosophy of Zero Fatalities. It's a goal we can all live with. It's the ONLY goal we can all live with. Several organizations have come together to support this goal of zero fatalities, but the most important partner in this goal is every individual who gets behind the wheel. It's the only way we'll get to zero.

Drowsy Driving

Did You Know: More people die in Utah each year from drowsy driving than from drunk driving.
According to a Utah Department of Public Safety poll, 40% of adult drivers in Utah - about 642,000 people - say they have fallen asleep or nodded off for even a moment, while driving. In fact, of those who have nodded off, four percent - approximately 64,000 drivers - admitted they were involved in a crash because they fell asleep at the wheel. Surprisingly, 56% of these fatigued drivers reported that they dozed off during daytime hours between noon and 9:00 p.m.

Distracted Driving

Did You Know: Distracted driving is a factor in 1 out of 4 crashes nationally.
Driving safely can be challenging enough, even when a driver is paying attention to the road and potential hazards. Distracted driving occurs when someone is focused on anything other than driving.

Anything that takes the driver's attention off the road is a distraction. Some common distractions include eating, reading, drinking, changing a CD, talking on a cell phone, applying make-up, reaching for something in the vehicle, or looking at something away from the roadway.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving means operating a vehicle in a way that endangers or is likely to endanger people or property.
Most behaviors associated with aggressive driving are illegal.

• Speeding
• Running red lights
• Failure to yield
• Tailgating
• Weaving

Responding to Aggressive Driving:

• Wear your seat belt. If your encounter with an aggressive driver results in a crash, your seatbelt will significantly reduce your chances of being injured or killed.
• Don't play their game. Back off and let them go on their way. Remember, it's not a competition and it's not your job to teach them a lesson.
• Ignore honking and rude gestures. Don't respond and don't make eye contact. It will only escalate the hostile feelings.
• If you can do so safely, contact police with the vehicle description, license number, the location, and direction of travel.

Impaired Driving

Did You Know: Alcohol is not the only thing that can impair your driving. Illegal drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and lack of sleep can impair your ability to drive safely.
Alcohol and drugs may impair a person's ability to concentrate, to make decisions, and slow reaction time to the roadway environment. Alcohol and drugs, legal or not, may affect motor skills, reflexes, and judgment. All of these characteristics are needed to drive safely. Being impaired increases the potential to injure others and cause fatalities.

In 2003, approximately 15% of motor vehicle fatalities in Utah involved alcohol or other drugs. Male drivers aged 20-24 represent the highest percentage of drivers involved in alcohol and drug-related crashes.

Not Buckling Up

Did You Know: Failing to buckle up contributes to more fatalities than any other traffic-safety-related behavior and that, in 2004, unbelted crash occupants were 31 times more likely to die in a crash than belted crash occupants.
Safety belts are approximately 50 percent effective in preventing fatalities in crashes in which motorists would otherwise die, so raising safety belt use saves lives. Sadly, in 2005, 282 motor vehicle occupants died on Utah's roadways. Of those, 208 were unrestrained or improperly restrained. Based on historical national studies, it is estimated that 50 percent of those people or 104 people would have survived if they had simply buckled up.