LAYTON -- A 36-year low in traffic fatalities still isn't good enough, transportation officials say.
The Utah Department of Transportation released 2010 traffic fatality statistics on Wednesday; 235 people died on Utah roads during the past year.
The number of fatalities in the state hasn't been this low since 1974, and represents a 4-percent drop from 2009, a 17-percent drop from 2005 and a 30-percent drop from 2000.
Weber County had 17 fatalities in 2010, down from 24 in 2009; Davis County had 9, compared to 10 the year before; Box Elder County had 12, up from nine; and Morgan County zero, down from two last year.
"Zero fatalities is our goal," said UDOT Deputy Director Carlos Braceras.
Braceras said the drop in fatalities since 2000 can be attributed to several factors, including more public transportation options, improved driver safety courses, new and improved safety measures on state roads and several statewide public awareness campaigns.
Braceras said engineering on the road also plays a part in the reduction.
Rumble strips, cable barriers to prevent crossover crashes, and high visibility road signs and striping make Utah roads safe, but improved driving practices by motorists will make them even safer, Braceras said.
"There is only so much we can do from an engineering perspective," he said. "But we can't make you put down the cell phone or put down the keys if you've been drinking, and we can't make you put your seat belt on."
UDOT officials say factors that contribute to the majority of fatal accidents in the state are drowsy driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, impaired driving and not wearing a seat belt.
Of the 235 fatalities in 2010, 11 were fatigue-related, 35 involved impaired drivers, 70 were speed-related and 89 were attributed to improper seat-belt restraint.
"The majority of crashes are behavior- related," Braceras said. "And those are preventable behaviors, not inevitable."
Utah Highway Patrol Major Mike Rapich said troopers will increase their attention on speeders and motorists not wearing seat belts in 2011.
"Lack of seat-belt use contributed to nearly 40 percent of fatalities on Utah's roads last year," Rapich said. "It amazes me that some people still fail to wear their seat belts. We're going to put a lot of effort toward seat-belt enforcement."
Of the 235 fatalities in 2010, 168 were on dry roads. Males were involved in more fatal accidents than females, accounting for 141 deaths.
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