SALT LAKE CITY — The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate America’s independence, but it’s also a time when people need to buckle up and use caution on the roads.
July 4 is the deadliest day of the year when it comes to car accidents in Utah, and according to the Utah Department of Transportation there have been an average of 20 fatalities each Independence Day over the last five years.
Rolayne Fariclough of AAA said part of the problem is a lack of preparation.
“We look at a lot of drowsy driving crashes, these are typically one car rollovers, and this is because people stay up late to get ready and don’t get a good night’s rest prior to going,” she said.
She also said people tend to relax and unbuckle their seat belts and let kids out of safety seats during long road trips, which makes accidents more deadly.
In mountain states, 2.5 million people are expected to travel more than 50 miles from their home by road for the holiday.
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