Public attitude and public actions aren’t always the same when it comes to three factors cited as important in cutting Utah automobile fatalities. According to a paper, “Utah Highway Fatalities – Problems, Actions, and Solutions” prepared in connection with the current state drive to reduce fatalities, Utalms readily agree that using seat belts, obeying the 55-mileper-hour speed limit, and not driving if alcohol is being consumed will reduce accidents. But to what extent will they accomplish those objectives? That’s a different story in a large number of cases. There’s cause for concern in such an attitude because highway fatalities have increased markedly this year. As of Aug. 1, 1977, there were 190 fatalities, accordinig to the Highway Patrol, compared with 155 to the same point last year. This represents an increase of 35 fatalities, or a 22.5 per cent hike. Fourteen counties have increased numbers of fatalities over 1976 mid-year levels Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Grand, lron, Juab, Morgan, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, and Wasatch. Provo, Ogden, and Salt Lake City have. fewer fatalities than last year at this time, for what consolation that gives the folks in the bigger cities. Motorcycle, pedestrian, and multiple vehicle fatal crashes were lower at mid1977 than in mid-1976. Essentially, the increase in fatal accidents this year is accounted for by more singlevehicle non-collision accidents (up 95 per cent over 1976) and single-vehicle c0llision-withfixed-object crashes (81 per cent higher this year). Within the single-vehicle category of fatal crashes, overturns account for most of the increase (125 per cent). Fatal accidents on rural roads have increased .10 per cent over 1976. Back to the factors in fatal accidents mentioned above – drinking, excessive speed, and non-use of seat belts: Drinking has been a contributing factor in 25 per cent of the fatal accidents in 1977, says the Highway Patrol report. Excessive speed was a contributing factor in 38 per cent of the fatal crashes. And of those vehicle occupants killed, only 5 per cent were wearing seat belts. The problem of public attitude versus public action on these factors was pinpointed in a survey by the Utah Highway Safety Office. Eighty-three per cent of persons responding felt alcohol figures heavily in accidents – and 84 per cent felt they would stop a friend, who has been drinking, from driving. But many Utahns do just the opposite, says the report. A roadside survey conducted by Dr. Roy Bird and published in June 1977 showed that statistically one driver in 37 of the group sampled had a blood alcohol count of .08 per cent and was legally drunk. One out of every six drivers was found to have been drinking. in October and March surveys, opinion was 71 per cent in favor of keeping the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit and over 70 per cent of the respondents considered the 55 mph limit the greatest factor in reducing fatalities. But the increased number of accidents and fatalities occurring because of excessive speed again shows the driving public is unwilling to translate its convictions into action. / The attitude versus action divergence was even more dramatic when it came to seat belts. A recent roadside survey on the Wasatch Front indicated only 11 per cent of the drivers were wearing seat belts – and only 12 per cent of all accident victims. The evidence is clear. There’s a wide gap between what we believe and what we do. That isn’t good – because in the case of driving, this could be the determining factor in life or death.