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- Preliminary data shows 281 road fatalities in Utah in 2024, a slight increase from 2023.
- Teen fatalities declined by 50%, but motorcycle deaths hit a 15-year high.
- One-third of fatalities involved vulnerable road users, with 43 pedestrian deaths reported.
SALT LAKE CITY — An estimated 281 people were killed on Utah roads last year, according to preliminary data released Tuesday by the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Department of Public Safety.
Those numbers represent a slight increase from the 279 road fatalities in 2023. However, the state saw a 50% decline in the number of teenagers killed on roads — 19 killed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024.
"Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy, and behind every statistic is a family forever changed," said Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Cam Roden. "Reducing roadway fatalities requires us to drive with care, patience and commitment to making safety our top priority."
A significant number of lives could have been saved had they simply buckled up.
–UDOT and DPS
One-third of all the fatalities on Utah roads were what the state calls "vulnerable road users" — motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists. More than 160 pedestrians suffered serious injuries after being struck by vehicles, and an additional 43 pedestrians were killed, according to the state's Zero Fatalities dashboard. Those numbers are in line with totals from recent years but are down from a nine-year high in 2022 when 176 pedestrians were seriously injured and 54 were killed. Seven bicyclists were killed on Utah roads in 2024.
Some 53 motorcyclists were killed last year, which represents a 15-year high in Utah, according to state data. An additional 343 were seriously injured.
"This marks an increase compared to previous years, with a concentration of deaths during the summer months (June through August)," a joint press release from the transportation and safety departments states. "Most incidents were single-vehicle crashes involving single riders, often attributed to speed, lack of protective gear or loss of control."
Although road conditions led to more crashes in the winter, according to the data, summer months had the most traffic fatalities, thanks to the higher speeds of vehicles involved in collisions during those months.
UDOT and DPS said more than a third of crash victims were not wearing seat belts at the time of collisions. "A significant number of lives could have been saved had they simply buckled up," the agencies' release added.
"By reviewing these numbers every year, we not only reflect on the lost lives but seek ways to improve," said Troy Peterson, UDOT operations director. "All of these crashes are preventable. We all are responsible for prioritizing safety and protecting one another and making this number zero."
More detailed data on the fatalities were attributed to various driving factors in 2024, according to the following Zero Fatalities statistics:
- 110 deaths related to drug and alcohol use.
- 78 deaths related to speed management.
- 23 deaths related to aggressive driving.
- Seven deaths related to drowsy driving.
- 22 deaths related to distracted driving.
- 69 deaths at intersections.
- 19 teenage deaths.
- 35 deaths involving a teen driver.
- 40 deaths involving a senior driver.
- 34 senior deaths.
- Eight senior pedestrian deaths.
- Six work zone safety deaths.
- 43 deaths involving commercial vehicles.
- Two transit system deaths.
- Four deaths at railroad crossings.
- 122 roadway departure deaths.
- 50 deaths on "high-risk rural roads."
