Labor Day Increased Enforcement

Labor Day weekend traditionally marks the end of summer and our state’s “100 Deadliest Days.”

And while many people are making plans for travel and a final weekend of fun before fall arrives, we’re making plans, too.

Our plans include working over 115 extra shifts focusing on unsafe driving behaviors. See below for more details on this.

Troopers will be working day and night throughout the state with one goal: to help everyone get where they’re going safely.

Extra shifts will focus on impaired driving, seat belts, speeding and distracted driving.

Seat Belt Safety

Our goal will always be Zero Fatalities and you can help out by wearing your seat belt, as did the occupants of the vehicle in this pictured accident. They were able to walk away from this crash with only minor injuries. To date for 2021 our Troopers have made 9,794 seat belt contacts.

Labor Day Stats

Over Labor Day weekend holidays from 2015 to 2020 there have been 21 fatal crashes statewide with UHP handling 7 of those. Of the 21 total fatal crashes:

• 11 were caused by an impaired driver
• 3 individuals killed were not wearing seat belts
• 7 involved excessive speed

These fatal numbers are in addition to the nearly 1,100 injury crashes that have changed and disrupted people’s lives.

We have seen a significant reduction in fatal accidents during the 100 Deadliest Days enforcement period, reducing fatal collisions from 83 in 2020 to 74 in 2021.

As we come to a close with this year’s “100 Deadliest Days,” we would like to remind you to continue to wear your seat belt, decrease your speed, and make the right decision by driving sober.

DUI Enforcement Blitz

This Friday, September 3, will be hosting a Labor Day DUI Enforcement Blitz to kick off the closing weekend of the “100 Deadliest Days”. A formal in-person briefing will be held at the Murray UHP Office, 5681 South 320 West, Murray, at 9 p.m. This is an opportunity to finish our 100 Deadliest Days enforcement period strong by preventing more tragedies on Utah roads.

115 Extra Shifts

This weekend, UHP will be providing 115 total overtime shifts to include:

• 39 DUI Shifts
• 71 Speed/Seatbelt/Distracted/Aggressive
• 5 Commercial Vehicle Specific Shifts
  

Media Contact:

Trooper Andy Battenfield, Utah Highway Patrol – PIO

801-554-5659