Utah sees a 17% jump in summer traffic fatalities

More people have died on Utah roads so far this summer than last year's, preliminary figures show.

Why it matters: The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends marks the "100 deadliest days" for Utah drivers, and state officials say these deaths are preventable.

• Speed, distracted driving and impairment have played significant roles in some of the crashes.

By the numbers: 184 people have been killed on Utah roads between Jan. 1 and Aug. 28.

• 95 of those fatalities have happened since Memorial Day weekend, up 17% from the same time last year, according to data released Thursday by the state transportation and public safety departments.
• 81 people died last year between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
• Nearly three times more pedestrians have been killed so far this summer than last (13 vs. 4).

What they're saying: "That's almost one a day," said Kristen Hoschouer, UDOT zero fatalities program manager.

Between the lines: Men made up 73% of the fatalities, while women accounted for 23%.

• Men are more likely than women to display unsafe driving conduct, like speeding on the freeway, tailgating and making rude gestures or honking at a driver, per the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety .
• UDOT launched a campaign in June targeting male drivers by asking women to rate the "ick factor" of aggressive behaviors like flipping someone off.

Flashback: The summer of 2015 holds the record for fatalities in the past decade, with 111 deaths.

What's next: As Labor Day nears, state officials are making a plea to drive safely and be cautious.