(COLO) – Checking your phone, taking a drink or changing your dashboard settings, it only takes a few seconds, so how does anyone really know? Colorado State Troopers see a variety of risky driving behaviors due to distraction and investigate crashes involving distractions regularly. Last year, Colorado State Patrol crash investigators attributed over 3,150 crashes (property, injury and fatal) to distraction, the second most common causal factor in 2024.
Of these crashes, over 530 involved serious injuries or death. However, crash investigators have also linked driver distraction to other crash causal factors such as lane violations. In addition to the approximately 530 injury or fatal distracted driving crashes, troopers determined that a lane violation caused at least 140 more injury and fatal crashes due to a person being distracted.
“Imagine a loved one being severely injured or losing their life in one of these crashes that resulted from someone just reaching to grab something or looking at their phone,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Troopers and local enforcement see it every day. We know what distraction looks like.”
Distracted Drivers Exhibit Behaviors Including:
- Drifting in and out of lanes
- Erratic lane changes, not signaling
- Sudden braking
- Slow response times to changing traffic conditions
- Missing traffic signals
- Inconsistent speed
“Driving should never come second,” noted Col. Packard. “When you start your vehicle, take responsibility by removing anything that pulls your attention away from the road.”
The Colorado State Patrol recognizes 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.
###
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 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.