Staying safe on Utah roads as the weather heats up

SALT LAKE CITY — With triple-digit heat creeping up in Utah, you may be taking a road trip, venturing into the canyons via windy roads to catch a break from the heat.

Heading to the water, many people will be pulling boats and other big items.

Before heading out, state troopers reminded Utahns to have good trailer handling.

“Double-check those hookups to make sure they are hooked up to your vehicle properly. We’ve had a few crashes in the last little bit where boats have come off from trailers,” said Lt. Cameron Roden with the Utah Highway Patrol.

The Utah heat combined with more traffic on roads (and bulky loads)

Utah Highway Patrol troopers are often the ones responding to crashes on the roads and in the canyons. Roden said on the winding and windy stretches going up the canyon, drivers are often faced with one-lane roads where traffic may get stacked up with large vehicles pulling loads going slow uphill.

A lot of times, too many chances are taken in passing when drivers should not do so.

“So really watch your speed in your areas and spot any hazards as you come up on those things, but also be able to maintain your lane,” Roden said.

That includes keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife when taking turns and how hard you are hitting the gas.

Please read Karah Brackin’s entire story at KSLTV.com