(COLO) – Teens and young drivers often take the rap for aggressive, unsafe or poor driving behaviors when in reality many other age groups are equally guilty if not more, in some negative driving behaviors. Looking at citation data from the Colorado State Patrol over the last four years (2019 – 2022) sheds some light on the concerning issue of lane violations which include behaviors like the inability to drive a vehicle within a single lane, driving in the wrong direction within a lane, making unsafe lane changes, or passing or overtaking a vehicle in the same lane.
“Maintaining a safe lane position and following road markings as intended can greatly reduce crashes not to mention the anxiety of other drivers around you,” explained Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “When a trooper sees things like weaving, unsafe passing distances and aggressive lane changes it often does prompt a traffic stop. These driving behaviors can indicate distraction, impairment or driving faster than the conditions allow.”
Watching the trends over four years (2019-2022), lane violation citations from the Colorado State Patrol were most frequently given to the following age groups in descending order:
- Age 30 – 39: 4,246 citations
- Age 22 – 29: 4,060 citations
- Age 40 – 49: 3, 135 citations
- Age 50 – 59: 2,495 citations
- Age 18 – 21: 1,778 citations
- Age 60 – 69: 1,660 citations
- Age 70 – 79: 727 citations
- Age 0 – 17: 448 citations
- Age 80+ : 212 citations
“Many scientists estimate that humans physically peak from about age 25 through 40, but driving has a lot to do with mental focus and good decision making,” stated Chief Packard. “As you age, life gets busier and often more complex; folks need to appreciate the responsibility they hold when behind the wheel so they can properly focus on this task and put everything else on the back burner.”
Refresher on Lane Positioning
A driver’s primary or “default” position for normal circumstances is to drive so that your vehicle (not the driver) is in the center of the lane with equal amounts of space on both sides of the vehicle.
The second lane position is to have the vehicle aligned to the left, ensuring that the vehicle is still safely off the center dividing line. This should be used cautiously to avoid a hazard on the right part of the lane (i.e., driving through a city block where parked car doors may open) or slowing down due to a road worker or emergency responder on the shoulder. You should return to your primary, centered lane position as soon as possible.
The third lane position is to have the vehicle aligned to the right, ensuring that the vehicle is still safely off the right lane line. This would be used when avoiding a hazard in the left part of the lane. You should return to your primary, centered lane position as soon as possible.
Troopers continue to take a low-tolerance approach to the top fatal crash factors, including lane violations while launching a yearlong campaign called “Drive Safe.” This campaign reminds people to control their lane position based on their current driving environment.
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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.