INTRODUCTION

In 1994, Utah experienced a 13% increase in the number of persons killed on the state's public roads and highways. During 1994 there were 303 fatal crashes in which 343 people lost their lives compared to the 260 fatal crashes in 1993 in which 303 persons died.

Alcohol-related traffic deaths increased dramatically in 1994: alcohol attributed to 94 fatalities compared to the 74 alcohol-related fatalities in 1993. 27.4% of all fatalities involved alcohol in 1994, with 24.4% of the 1993 fatalities having alcohol as a contributing factor. Utah alcohol-involved fatalities, although at 27.4%, are well below the national average of 45 to 50 percent. Special incentive funds under U.S. Code Section 408 and 410 (curbing of drinking and driving) have been successfully utilized in Utah for several years. In October of 1994, the Utah Highway Patrol has also participated in the Safe and Sober Squad as administered by NHTSA.
In 1994, pedestrian fatalities also showed a sharp rise: from 31 pedestrians killed by a motor vehicle in 1993, to 43 pedestrian fatalities in 1994. Children between the ages of 0 and 12 accounted for 13 of the pedestrian fatalities. This age group represents 30% of the total pedestrian fatalities.

While the Utah statewide population experienced a 2.7% increase, the number of motor vehicle crashes increased by 6.4%. Drivers must become more aware of the impact their actions may have on others. The fact remains that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among Americans age 1 - 34. However, of equal note are the 28,436 injuries received in 1994 by persons in Utah crashes. This number is not a mere statistic, but a human story of suffering on an individual level.

DATA SOURCE
The data used for this analysis was provided by local law enforcement agencies* and collected by the Utah Highway Safety Office and the Department of Transportation (UDOT). These records include the State Accident Report and a Supplemental Fatal Accident Report. Other data used in the compilation of this book are derived from newspapers, death certificates, obituaries, the Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, the Medical Examiner's Office, the Utah Governor's Office of Budget and Planning, and the Department of Transportation Division of Utah Highway Performance Monitoring System. The University of Utah Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) compiled the files into this format.

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