(COLO) – April is National Distracted Driving Month, and the Colorado State Patrol doesn’t want you to be fooled; multi-tasking behind the wheel is a myth. Drivers need to maintain focus to respond to the unexpected, like a vehicle braking quickly in front of you, bicyclists sharing a lane, or even obstacles in the road. Colorado State Troopers issued 13,252 citations last year for improper, reckless or careless driving, many of which were due to distraction.
“Distraction starts from within us; our impatience, boredom, 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.”
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the top two locations, the third location could not be identified explicitly as rural roads and neighborhood streets superseded any other national or state highways in Colorado.
In the 2024 Driving Behavior Survey from CDOT, nearly three out of four drivers (73%) said they ate food or drank beverages while driving in the last seven days and nearly two out of three (65%) said they talked on a hands-free phone. While phone-related distractions generally decreased with age, drivers aged 25–44 reported the highest rates of picking up a phone to make calls (54%), read messages (53%), and send messages (46%) in the last week.
The Colorado State Patrol is recognizing Distracted Driving Awareness Month by sharing data and tips to encourage all Colorado drivers to focus on one task: driving when they get behind the wheel. Colorado’s Hands Free law went into effect on January 1, 2025. There is no lane reserved for you to drive distracted, drop the distractions.
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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.