(COLO) – Whether the holiday office party, your best friend’s ugly sweater celebration or your family’s annual get-together, the season from Thanksgiving through New Year’s often brings cherished opportunities to gather together. Yet, alcohol and other impairing substances often play a big role in our holiday traditions.
In a recent survey, 48% of respondents over the age of 21 admitted that they drink more alcohol at holiday parties than at any other time of the year. So, this year, while you search for a babysitter or select the best outfit to wear to your event, your Colorado State Troopers also implore you to arrange for a sober ride if you plan on consuming.
Looking at data from just the Colorado State Patrol, last December (2021) troopers issued 388 citations for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and investigated 44 fatal or injury crashes caused by impaired driving.
“Historically December is a busy month for law enforcement due to poor decision-making at holiday parties which leads to impaired drivers on Colorado’s highways and community streets,” explains Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “When you fail to call a rideshare or a sober friend, you endanger every motorist and pedestrian on your path home.”
In addition, to struggling with maintaining a consistent speed and erratic breaking, an intoxicated driver often drifts between lanes and sometimes hovers over a lane line. In a worst-case scenario, this could lead to a head-on collision, forcing another driver off the road or a side-swipe crash.
When the Colorado State Patrol looked at DUI/DUID fatal and injury crashes investigated by the Patrol for the first six months of 2022 (Jan – June 2022), the top five counties were:
2022 Top 5 counties - D00/D01 Fatal and Injury Crashes
- El Paso: 39
- Larimer: 37
- Weld: 31
- Adams: 22
- Jefferson: 21
- Total: 150
In addition, with these same crashes, Troopers found that the at-fault driver of these DUI/DUID fatal and injury crashes was not wearing their seatbelt 63% of the time.
“We want you to live to celebrate the holidays,” states Col. Matthew C. Packard. “If you are going out, get a sober ride.”
Troopers continue to take a low-tolerance approach to lane violations while launching a yearlong campaign called “Stay in Your Lane.” This campaign is designed to remind people to control their lane position based on their current driving environment. This campaign also aims to bring attention to three of the most common and avoidable behaviors that contribute to lane violations – driving aggressively, driving distracted or driving while impaired.
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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.