LAYTON -- Next time you get into a fender bender on the freeway, the state wants you to take it off the road.
The Utah Department of Transportation has begun a new campaign to alert motorists involved in minor traffic accidents to move off busy roadways when exchanging insurance information with other drivers or waiting for the police.
Robert Hull, UDOT director of traffic and safety, said drivers involved in a crash with no injuries should move to the side of the interstate, drive along the emergency lane, stop at the nearest ramp and call 911.
"We want people to move off of the high-speed facilities," Hull said. "It's a lot safer for everyone involved -- for you, for the highway patrol and for other motorists."
UDOT is teaming up with the Utah Highway Patrol on the new campaign.
UHP Superintendent Danny Fuhr said with higher traffic volumes on interstates, UHP has seen an increase in secondary crashes caused by traffic congestion following fender benders.
So far this year, 20 troopers have been involved in crashes on Utah freeways.
Fuhr said the ultimate goal is zero, and clearing crashed vehicles off the interstates could help prevent a minor crash from turning into a major one.
In addition to the safety aspect, clearing minor crashes from the freeway allows for smoother traffic flow, Hull said.
"It helps with the mobility issues on our roadways. We've all been in that situation where a very minor incident can cause some major delays."
As part of the campaign, UDOT will be placing large signs along much of Utah's interstate system.
"They will be going up along I-15, I-215, I-80 and I-84," Hull said.
"We've already got some of the signs made up, and people should see them start to pop up in the next few weeks. We're trying to put them in places where we have some space, so people will have a reminder to pull off."
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