(COLO) –Distracted driving is a dangerous and preventable behavior for all drivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), every day in the United States, nine people die, and over 1,000 people are injured in crashes caused by distracted drivers.
“While any vehicle can cause death, the consequences of a crash are amplified when a commercial motor vehicle is involved due to its increased weight, load dynamics and required stopping distances,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Troopers are aware of these greater risks, and we believe professional drivers are as well.”
When looking at 2023 citation data from the Colorado State Patrol, troopers issued 822 citations to CMV drivers in 2023 for improper, reckless or careless driving. This was a 23% increase over 2022. The top month for these citations in 2023 was January, followed by December. Winter conditions are particularly dangerous due to changes to road surfaces.
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the top two locations, the third location could not be specifically identified as rural roads and neighborhood streets superseded any other national or state highways in Colorado.
“Those few seconds looking at your phone or removing a hand from the wheel to perform another task may seem innocent at first, but these actions can have a serious impact on other motorists or pedestrians around you,” stated Col. Packard. “This agency alone investigated 566 injury and fatal crashes caused by distracted drivers last year. Unintended crashes can and do happen, and we need our commercial drivers to stay focused to help us reduce hazards on Colorado roadways.”
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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.