(COLO) – April is National Distracted Driving Month, and the Colorado State Patrol doesn’t want you to be fooled; if a trooper sees you driving distracted, a citation for improper, reckless or careless driving could soon be on your way. Last year, Colorado State Troopers issued 15,553 of these citations, a 4.5% increase over 2022.
“Distraction starts from within us; our impatience, boredom, stress, or even fatigue and distractions can become deadly when a person is driving a vehicle,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “It is up to all of us to be aware of the temptation of distraction. Driving needs to be the sole focus, no matter how experienced at driving you believe you are.”
When looking at 2023 citation data from the Colorado State Patrol, inattention to driving showed up in every age category, but the top five were:
1) 22-29 year olds (3,637)
2) 30-39 year olds (3,443)
3) 18-21 year olds (2,253)
4) 40-49 year olds (2,162)
5) 50-59 year olds (1495)
In addition, the Colorado State Patrol ranked the most common roads for improper, reckless or careless citations. While I-25 and I-70 claimed the top two locations, the third location could not be specifically identified as rural roads and neighborhood streets superseded any other national or state highways in Colorado.
“When you see someone leave their lane or fail to stop at a light or stop sign, these behaviors are considered improper, reckless or careless,” stated Col. Packard. “We take these ‘simple’ violations seriously because they can lead to the worst kind of crashes with the biggest cost being the loss of human life.”
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ABOUT THE COLORADO STATE PATROL
Since our origin in 1935, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has focused on preserving human life and protecting property within our communities. Our 1,100 members embody the core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect in their daily jobs. In addition to our expertise in motor vehicle safety on the state’s roadways, the CSP is responsible for the Governor and other dignitaries’ protection, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, hazardous materials, homeland security, communications, investigative services, criminal interdiction, community education, aviation operations, and more.