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Monday December 09, 2024 Salt Lake City, UT

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Highway Safety

Don’t Let Summer Memories End Up in Tragedy

Tuesday May 29, 2018

Historically, fatal crashes nearly double in the summer compared to the rest of the year. That’s why the days between Memorial and Labor Day get called ‘The 100 Deadliest Days.’

If we can get Utahns to improve their driving, walking, riding behaviors this summer, we will undoubtedly save lives.

You can protect yourself and those you love this summer by always:

  1. Wearing a seat belt
  2. Drive sober
  3. Driving/riding/walking alert
  4. Obeying the laws of the road, including the speed limit.

Don’t let your summer memories turn into tragedies—drive safely and make Zero Fatalities your goal.

We are grateful for the Herrera Family and the courage they have to share Maria’s crash story. Together we hope her story will encourage Utahns to slow down and put away distraction this summer and always.

In Utah 40.7% of all crashes involve speeding. Driving beyond the speed limit is dangerous. Take it from the Herrera family when they say, it’s not worth risking your life.

We might not all be tempted to drive drunk, or unbuckled or even distracted, but we will all find ourselves speeding at some point. And when that moment comes we hope you think of Maria, and slow down.

When you’re driving this summer please remember: distraction is anything that takes the driver’s attention away from the task of safe driving. No distraction is worth a life – no text, or food, or photo, or post or conversation.

Maria loved balloons, especially on her birthday. At a recent media event, DPS and UDOT honored Maria by displaying balloons to honor the lives lost on Utah’s roads in 2017. We hope these balloons make you think of her, reminding each of us to honor Maria’s life by pledging to always drive the speed limit and distraction free. Speeding is never worth the risk.

*Click here to view the fact sheet & tips to keep you safe during the 100 Deadliest Days

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