DPS launches enforcement push as distracted driving fatalities increase

Officers attend training for the upcoming distracted driver crackdown by the Utah Department of Public Safety. Photo: DPS

SALT LAKE CITY — The share of fatal crashes involving distracted drivers in Utah has climbed sharply in recent years, prompting a statewide enforcement push this month, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety.

Data from DPS show that distracted driving accounted for about 1.3% of traffic fatalities in 2007. By 2024, that figure had risen to more than 8%, reflecting what officials describe as a growing and often underreported danger on Utah roads.

In response, law enforcement agencies across the state will conduct a coordinated crackdown on distracted driving from April 6 through April 20. The effort includes covert enforcement tactics in which officers in unmarked vehicles identify violations — such as cellphone use, eating or grooming while driving — and communicate with nearby marked units to stop drivers for warnings or citations.

The enforcement campaign spans multiple jurisdictions, including Salt Lake and Utah counties, and is paired with a new public awareness initiative aimed at changing driver behavior.

State officials say distraction remains a persistent factor in crashes despite widespread awareness of the risks. Research from DPS and the Utah Department of Transportation found that 38% of Utah drivers report driving distracted at least once a week, while most believe other drivers are the primary offenders.

Crash data reinforces the concern. In 2024, Utah recorded 23 fatalities linked to distracted driving, with cellphone use contributing to one in five distraction-related crashes.

Younger drivers continue to be disproportionately involved. From 2021 through 2025, more than half of distraction-related crashes involved drivers age 24 and under.

So far in 2026, the state has recorded 1,183 distracted driving-related crashes, including 26 suspected serious-injury crashes, according to DPS. Officials note those figures likely underestimate the true scope of the problem because distraction is difficult to confirm in crash investigations.

In 2025, Utah saw 5,189 distraction-related crashes, resulting in 11 deaths and 166 serious injuries. More than a quarter of those crashes involved teen drivers.

Authorities say the April enforcement effort is intended to curb risky behavior and reinforce that even brief distractions can have fatal consequences.