Teen Traffic Deaths Continue to Rise in Utah

More Utah teens have died in car crashes during the first nine months of this year than in all of 2015, according to new state data.

A total of 26 teenagers had died on Utah roads as of the end of October. That compares with 15 teen fatalities at the same point last year. If this year’s trend continues, this will be the deadliest since 2009.

Teen road deaths had been declining until two years ago, when the death toll jumped to 29, according to the data.

Teens in the state are more likely to die in a car crash than any other means, according to the Utah Department of Health. Most killed last year were not wearing a seatbelt properly. Teenagers have the lowest rate of seatbelt use of any age group, the agency said.

“If I could change a single behavior of every Utahn, it would be to make sure they are always buckled up, no matter what,” Utah Department of Transportation executive director Carlos Braceras said in a statement.

Crashes involving teens are also twice as likely to have contributing factors like failing to yield the right of way or speeding.