Pedestrians, motorcyclists warned about high safety risks due to unseasonably warm weather

Due to the unseasonably warm temperatures, pedestrian and motorcycle injuries and deaths have not slowed down.
Usually, snow and rain are what cause problems on the road this time of year, but since it’s been so warm, there are more people out and about.
When temperatures are hitting 60 degrees in mid-December, it’s no surprise people want to take advantage of a nice walk or ride.
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“It’s almost Christmas, and I’m like, ‘Are we going to get snow this year?’” Gaby Galeas said.
It’s not just hikes and other activities people are taking advantage of during this warm weather; motorcycle riders like Galeas are happy to have more time to ride.
“For me, it’s a bonus because you get those extra days of riding,” she said. “Most of our riding season is usually short.”
According to the Department of Public Safety, Utah is still up 35% for motorcycle crash deaths this year to date.
“Typically, in December it’s not very common to see motorcycles out and about, but with this weather they’re still out and about,” Trooper Takesha Durrant said.
Durrant said drivers need to make sure they’re still looking out for motorcycle riders. But not just them, pedestrians too.
Utah had five pedestrian deaths from November 23rd to December 3rd, and Salt Lake Police are currently looking for the suspect in a hit-and-run that happened on December 2nd.
“I think once I started riding, I started paying attention more to what drivers are doing,” Galeas said.
Riding is a stress reliever for Galeas, but it’s not the only one. She also goes for long walks every day.
“When I am crossing the crosswalk, I’m making sure people are making eye contact with me that I know are going to turn to make sure that they saw me,” she said.
With the holidays coming up, even more people will be traveling and out on the roads, so UHP wants to remind people to pay attention and look out for everyone.
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