Safe Driving
Driver behavior is a key contributing factor in a majority of Colorado’s fatal and serious injury crashes. While technological advancements have helped make vehicles safer, they are also coupled with more driver distractions. Safe Driving targets high-risk driver behaviors including driving while impaired and/or distracted, aggressive driving, occupant protection (seat belts and/or helmets) and speeding.
Safe Driving Trends
Fatalities by Behavioral Factors - Graph
Fatalities by Behavioral Factors - Table
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Fatalities per Year | 693 | 783 | 757 | 841 | 604 |
| Impaired (Alcohol/Drugs) | 176 | 212 | 255 | 281 | 228 |
| Speeding | 239 | 287 | 174 | 215 | 258 |
| Aggressive | 82 | 89 | 101 | 118 | 96 |
| Improper Seatbelt Usage | 196 | 195 | 227 | 227 | 22 |
The data provided above for the most recent year is considered preliminary. Please refer to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the most accurate fatality data for the state of Colorado. The data source of the data above is the Colorado Department of Transportation crash database. Please note that Speeding and Aggressive Driving numbers as demonstrated in the graph above may be underreported due to the subjectivity involved in crash reporting. Distracted Driving is not shown, as data for this factor is not robustly available. Additionally, Improper Seatbelt Usage fatality data (related to Occupant Protection) is only collected for passenger vehicles and encompasses fatalities amongst passenger vehicle occupants not wearing a seatbelt or wearing a seatbelt improperly. Reference more crash data and key transportation safety data information.
Impairment
Impaired driving remains a major contributor to fatal and serious injury crashes on Colorado roadways. Reducing these crashes requires a comprehensive approach that includes strong laws, consistent enforcement, and effective education and prevention strategies. The SHSP identifies strategies that focus on polydrug impairment education, high-risk impaired driving corridors, and high-visibility enforcement events to deter impaired driving. These combined strategies aim to change behaviors and improve safety for all roadway users.
Strategies
- SD03: Provide polydrug impairment education
- SD04: Prioritize high-risk impaired driving corridors
- SD05: Continue high-visibility enforcement
Distraction
Distracted driving includes any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road, such as responding to a text, talking to a passenger, or reaching for food. While these actions may seem harmless, they can have serious and even fatal consequences. Like impaired driving, reducing distraction requires a comprehensive approach that combines strong laws, visible enforcement, and ongoing education. The SHSP identifies efforts to educate the public on Colorado’s hands-free law and to enhance data collection to better understand and address distracted driving behaviors.
Strategies
- SD10: Provide education on hands-free law
- SD11: Enhance data collection
Aggression
Aggressive driving is often described as a “know it when you see it” behavior and includes actions such as speeding in heavy traffic, tailgating, running red lights, cutting off other drivers, and weaving through lanes. These behaviors create dangerous conditions for everyone on the road and are becoming increasingly common across the country, including Colorado. To address this issue, the SHSP identifies strategies such as anti-aggressive driving campaigns to raise awareness and encourage safer driving habits, and increased enforcement activity on high-risk corridors.
Strategies
- SD06: Deploy anti-aggressive driving campaigns
- SD07: Prioritize high-risk aggressive driving corridors
Occupant
Protection
Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the risk of serious injury or death in a crash. Unbelted occupants are at risk of being ejected from the vehicle during a collision, which is often fatal. Despite the proven safety benefits, seat belt use is not consistent across all vehicle types or populations. Proper use of child car seats is also critical, yet misuse remains widespread. To address these issues, the SHSP strategies focus on targeted media campaigns and education about the benefits of seatbelt usage, with the goal of increasing awareness and encouraging safer behaviors.
Strategies
- SD01: Promote proper use through media campaigns
- SD02: Educate on primary seat belt law
Speeding
Speeding is a common form of aggressive driving and a major contributing factor in crashes. Drivers may speed due to frustration with traffic, being late, feeling anonymous behind the wheel, disregarding speed limits, or reacting to roadway design that encourages higher speeds. To improve safety, the SHSP identifies strategies that prioritize interventions at high-risk speeding locations and the deployment of speed safety camera systems to reduce dangerous speeding behavior.
Strategies
- SD08: Prioritize high-risk speeding locations
- SD09: Deploy speed safety camera systems
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