State lawmakers say it's time to educate Utahns about road rage incidents

SALT LAKE CITY – A fatal traffic accident occurred Monday morning on one of the busiest highways in the Salt Lake Valley.

“It appears to be a road rage incident that escalated into a shooting that occurred just before the exit on 201 eastbound. We have one person who is deceased and the other person is in law enforcement custody,” said Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Cameron Roden.

Thomas Long, 44, was arrested and taken to the Salt Lake County Jail and is being held without bail.

Representative Paul Cutler, the sponsor of House Bill 30, explains its purpose.

“I think this is an eye opener for all of us as we knew road rage was a problem. The statistics show it’s more widespread than we thought,” Cutler said.

He adds that the numbers are far higher than expected.

“That's why HB 30 created a framework whereby when an officer issues a ticket or arrests someone, they note whether road rage played a role in that incident,” Cutler said.

The bill went into effect in July 2024 and officials are already saying the data is alarming.

“Since July, UHP has investigated over 40 cases of traffic violence. Of course, not all of these cases will be as serious as this one,” Roden said.

According to Cutler, those convicted of road rage face higher fines or possible prison time. The fines go to a road rage awareness fund.

Cutler believes it's time to get out and educate drivers.

“Take preventative measures. Help people understand what happens when they see road violence and what they can do to prevent it,” he said.

He and others urge people to control their moods and emotions while driving.

“Let people think twice about any type of road rage – that not only is it dangerous for everyone involved, but also that the consequences that can arise from road rage can be serious,” Roden said.

“Take it easy. You can wait, you can be 30 seconds late on your journey. We all need to be more polite and drive safer,” Cutler added.