NEWS RELEASE
COLORADO STATE TROOPERS
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Colorado’s Western Slope brings beautiful views along with some additional hazards that require motorists’ sole focus. Whether ice, snow, bicyclists, pedestrians or wildlife situations can present themselves quickly and without warning leaving drivers with life-saving decisions in a short amount of time. Driving above the speed limit or the road conditions shortens those same drivers’ time to react and can create deadly results.
In 2022, Colorado State Troopers investigated 50 serious injury or fatal crashes between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend on Colorado’s Western Slope due to a motorist who exceeded a safe and legal speed.
While many risk-taking behaviors ramp up over the weekend, such as driving impaired and lane violations, State Patrol data revealed that speeding crashes were most common on Mondays followed closely by Fridays in this region.
“The data suggests that many of our speeding-caused crashes could be stemming from over-confidence and complacency from local drivers,” explained Major Brett Williams, district commander for Region 5 of the Colorado State Patrol. “Speed limits are there for your safety and if everyone follows them, traffic flow is also enhanced.”
Recreational travelers can also play an important role in helping reduce aggressive and reckless driving in the area. If a motorist notices a long line of vehicles behind them pulling over in a safe place to allow those to pass is a great option. In addition, on roads with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction vehicles should say in the right lane, except to pass.
For more great mountain driving tips, visit Super Cruising in Colorado from the Colorado State Patrol.
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