(COLO) – Colorado’s Western Slope is a beautiful place to live or visit, but it does come with some hazards, including navigating hidden and curved roads and some steep grades. With weather also playing a factor in visibility and road conditions, the Colorado State Patrol wants to remind motorists to follow basic traffic safety laws, especially driving the speed limit.
Looking at 2022 crashes investigated by troopers on just Colorado’s Western Slope over the fall season (October – December), there were 267 serious injury or fatal collisions.
November was the peak month for crashes and Friday was the most frequent day of the week. The top five causal factors for these Western Slope injury and fatal crashes investigated by Colorado State Patrol were:
- Speeding – 72
- Lane Violations – 42
- Impaired Driving – 37
- Distracted Driving - 28
- Failing to Yield the Right of Way - 19
“Our data shows that speeding is a significant problem throughout the area,” stated Major Dave Rollins, District 4 Commander for the Colorado State Patrol. “Speed limits are set to protect you, other motorists, wildlife, and property. Reduce your speed and enjoy the scenery.”
For more great mountain driving tips, visit the Super Cruising website. Drivers can find information on navigating various mountain conditions like steep turns and blind corners while linked to local weather information.
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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.