OREM — It's been a deadly few days on Utah's roads.
Two people were killed in motorcycle crashes on Wednesday – an 18-year-old in South Jordan and a 17-year-old on Weber Canyon Road in Summit County.
Meanwhile, another 18-year-old from Santaquin died on Tuesday following a rollover crash on state Route 68 in southern Utah County.
Those recent crashes have Utah Highway Patrol once again urging safety in the period known as the "100 Deadliest Days" between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
UHP Lt. Cameron Roden told KSL-TV that as of Thursday, there have been around 35 or 36 deadly crashes since Memorial Day statewide, which is about normal or even slightly above normal. But there are some troubling trends. Roden said deaths from motorcycle crashes specifically are on track to exceed even last year, which hit a 15-year high.
Roden said troopers are noticing reckless behavior from motorcyclists as well as drivers who aren't yielding to motorcycles in intersections.
"During the summertime, these are our hundred deadliest days of summer for a reason," Roden said. "That's because speeds increase, risky behaviors increase, so we want to make sure just to let people know of the things that we see causing fatalities here on Utah roads, so people can make themselves safe and change behaviors that they may see in themselves."
A big factor leading to deadly crashes, Roden added, is speed. He said drivers are going too fast, which is contributing to some of the deaths on Utah's roads so far this summer.
A reminder to "drive good":
Utahns encouraged to 'Drive Good' as 100 deadliest days of summer begins
The state launched its annual campaign in May to remind drivers to practice safe driving habits between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
