(COLO) – Just like declaring love is considered “pushy” on a first date, driving like a cast member from Fast & Furious can be a relationship red flag. Last year, Colorado State troopers found that aggressive driving was among the three leading causes of crashes across the State over Valentine’s weekend.
Isolating just Friday and Saturday of Valentine's weekend 2025, troopers investigated 321 crashes. The top three causal factors for those crashes were:
- Speeding (132) - a form of aggressive driving
- Lane Violations (63)
- Following too Closely (30) - a form of aggressive driving
“Moving too fast can make you crash and burn, whether in a relationship or driving down the road,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Over fifty percent of these crashes were due to an aggressive driving behavior. That’s not an attractive look.”
Saturday saw approximately 33% more crashes than Friday, even though this isn’t a traditional workday for most people. When comparing this holiday weekend with crashes troopers investigated throughout 2025, speeding and following too closely increased dramatically over the Valentine’s Day weekend. For all of 2025, Speeding was the fourth most common crash causal factor, and following too closely was the fifth.
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“Don’t put yourself in a position where you need to rush this weekend; plan ahead,” stated Col. Packard. “If you are running late, pull over to a safe spot and call your date. Then your date can call to hold that reservation.”
How your date handles a minor “speed bump” is an indicator of their patience and long-term potential anyway. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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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 protection of the Governor and other dignitaries, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, hazardous materials, homeland security, communications, investigative services, criminal interdiction, community education, aviation operations, and more. For additional information, visit us online at Colorado State Patrol or follow us on X, Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook.