UDOT presents Zero Fatalities update: early‑year fatalities down but serious injuries remain a concern

UDOT officials briefed the commission on the department’s Zero Fatalities strategic direction and dashboard, highlighting declines in the early‑year fatality rate and outlining specific countermeasures the department is pursuing.

Operations staff reported a fatality rate of 0.57 (goal is 1.0 or below) and noted roughly 38 fatalities year‑to‑date, with vulnerable road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists) accounting for about 37 percent of fatalities. Suspected serious traffic injuries are approximately 325 — about 8 percent higher than the department’s target reduction. Lane departures and intersection crashes remain leading contributors to fatalities and serious injuries.

The department pointed to several targeted countermeasures driven by HSM/HSIP analysis: intersection revisits for access management and geometric changes, high‑friction surface treatments, rumble strips and signing on curves, speed feedback signs, and motorcycle safety outreach. Staff emphasized the data‑driven prioritization process that feeds HSIP project selection and highlighted examples in Regions 3 and 4 where interventions have been implemented.

"We don't just throw graphs together," the operations director said, explaining how UDOT regions use crash and exposure data to develop cost‑benefit‑driven projects. Commissioners asked about data timeliness and reporting lags; staff noted suspected serious injury counts carry reporting delays and that fatality counts are updated as reports are received.

UDOT will continue to bring data‑driven HSIP project nominations to regions and report back on outcomes and performance measures.