The Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) says that they’ll be adding dozens of extra enforcement shifts over the next few weeks to curb holiday speeding.
UHP announced the speed enforcement effort on December 20.
“We have 82 extra enforcement shifts over the next few weeks in an effort to remind everyone, arriving safely is what matters. So please slow down and drive safely this holiday season,” troopers said.
UHP troopers say that they have stopped and ticketed more than 4,000 drivers for traveling at speeds over 100 m.p.h. in this year alone.
As winter weather conditions arrive in Utah, UHP is also asking drivers not only to obey posted speed limits, but also to drive to conditions:
“There’s another element to speed crash data and even speeding citations, and it involves situations in which even the posted speed limit is too fast. That’s right — even the posted speed limit can be too fast. It comes into play from these words in the statute above: “…is reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions…”When can the speed limit be too fast? During inclement weather, traffic or areas in which road work is happening are some of the main situations in which people can drive too fast for conditions. The statute calls on drivers to be reasonable and prudent and to pay attention to actual and potential hazards. Inclement weather is one the situations in which a lot of drivers can be traveling too fast for conditions.”