Through July, 145 people perished on Utah roads - on foot, in vehicles, on bicycles or or motorcycles - Utah Department of Transportation Operations Director Tracy Conti told the Utah Transportation Commission at its monthly meeting Friday.

That's a slight improvement from the four-year average of 155 and markedly better than last year's 178 death toll through July, but Conti had hoped for better because Utahns have driven 3 percent fewer miles this year because of high gasoline prices.

Another 23 had died - as of Thursday - so far in August.

The biggest hazard continues to be falling asleep at the wheel, Conti said. More than half the deaths happened when a single car ran off the road. Many of those occurred on rural highways.

Last year, just as many people died in drowsy-driving accidents - 37 - as in drunken-driving crashes, a recent study by the Utah Foundation noted. And nearly twice as many fatalities (72) occurred in 2007 when aggressive, speeding drivers crashed than when drunken drivers did.

Pedestrians also took their lives in their hands this summer when they stepped onto a street. A spike of five pedestrian deaths in July pushed the seven-month total to 14, one higher than the four-year average for the same period. It's a seasonal problem that could get worse in August and September.

"We worry the most [now]," Conti said, "with school starting and [more] pedestrians out."

Notably, motorcycle deaths did not spike in July, even as more people hopped on bikes to save gas. Only two bikers died last month, compared with nine the previous July. Nationwide there have been reports of the increasing dangers as more people ride.

"Maybe the media attention has made people more aware," Commission Chairman Stuart Adams said.

Driver-education classes also are stressing safety around motorcycles, Conti said. Still, about one in a thousand licensed bikers will die in a wreck.

"It's staggering," Conti said.

Bikers and pedestrians account for about a quarter of U.S. traffic deaths. In Utah, the figure is about 22 percent, Conti said.

Four bicyclists have died on Utah roads this year as of Thursday.

Utah's 145 deaths through July add up to 0.93 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. That's lower than last year, when the figure approached 1.2, but it's about the same as in 2005 and 2006.

bloomis@sltrib.com

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* ROSEMARY WINTERS contributed to this story.