Speed Management Emphasis
Challenge
Speeding continues to be one of the leading contributing factors for serious injury and fatal crashes in Utah. In 2024, speeding was a contributing factor in nearly 35% of all traffic deaths and 30% of all crashes.
Direction
Control speed through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary and coordinated approach that encompasses behavioral, enforcement and engineering elements.
ACTIONS
Safer Speeds
Enforcement
- Fully develop and implement a speed management tool that law enforcement at all levels can easily access to more effectively manage speed.
- Fund and support special speed enforcement campaigns of targeted areas.
- Promote public awareness and voluntary speed limit compliance with all users.
- Work with local courts, the Driver License Division, and elected officials to increase the penalties both financially and criminally for speeding violations.
Education
- Promote and support educational outreach activities focused on improving behaviors related to speed management.
Engineering
- Apply speed management strategies as outlined in the speed management fact sheets.
- Set speed limits using the UDOT highway speed limit and work zone speed limit policies.
- Use media messaging and variable message signs to promote anti-speeding efforts.
- Fully develop and implement a speed management tool that planners and designers can use to evaluate speeding issues and present resources to more effectively manage speed.
Leaders
- Utah Department of Public Safety:
- Utah Highway Patrol
- Highway Safety Office
- Statewide Local Law Enforcement Agencies
- Utah Department of Transportation
Resources
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
- Noteworthy Speed Management Practices
- Speed Concepts: Informational Guide (Ch. 7, “Managing Traffic Speed”)
- Proven Safety Countermeasures
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
