Drivers warned to keep their eyes on the road as distracted crash rates rise
DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Department of Transportation is once again asking drivers to put down distractions while driving.
That’s because the agency’s 2023 Driver Behavior Survey found that 76% of Colorado drivers reported using their phone (both handheld or hands-free) while driving last year, and 45% of survey respondents said they used a handheld phone during the last seven days while driving.
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In 2022, about 67% of survey respondents said they would use their phone while driving.
“It only takes a split second for something to go wrong when you’re distracted behind the wheel,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, in the CDOT release. “Troopers see an uptick of crashes due to inattentive driving during rush hours when people are tempted by distraction. Your commute may be routine, but this is also a congested time on the road and you can’t predict other motorists, pedestrians or road hazards — drive with focus!”
Surveyed drivers also said they’ve done a range of distracting activities while driving, including eating, changing entertainment or searching for something inside the car. These surveyed drivers who said they engaged in distracting behavior were more likely to speed or not wear a seat belt while driving, CDOT found.
How deadly are Colorado’s distracted drivers?
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, 65 fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2021 involved a distracted driver, up from 53 in 2020. NHTSA does not have 2022 or 2023 data publicly available as of the publication date.
In 2023, CDOT released a video featuring distracted driving crash victim Triny Willerton. Willerton was riding her bike when a distracted driver crashed into her. The video also shows how quickly things can change after taking your eyes off the road: In 3 seconds, a driver could miss seeing 20 cyclists on the road.
CDOT reports that in 2020, 10,166 crashes involved a distracted Colorado driver, resulting in 1,476 injuries and 68 deaths. Even with these life-threatening consequences, more than 90% of Colorado drivers self-report driving distracted.
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No drivers in Colorado can legally text and drive. Adults can use cell phones for audio calls, but drivers under 18 are prohibited from all cell phone use. However, drivers ages 20-39 are more likely to be involved in distracted driving crashes, according to the state patrol.
A bill prohibiting all drivers from using their cell phones unless using a hands-free accessory is garnering support from the Colorado State Patrol and CDOT. The measure is currently making its way through the legislature and passed through the Senate on March 15. The bill would align Colorado with 27 other states with hands-free laws, according to CDOT.
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