Distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of vehicle crashes on Colorado roads, according to latest statistics.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), says distracted drivers were involved in 15,143 crashes on the state’s roads in 2019, resulting in 4,361 injuries and 28 fatalities.
And in the CDOT 2020 Driving Behavior Survey, 92 percent of respondents reported that they had driven distracted in the previous seven days. The most common distractions included eating or drinking, selecting entertainment on a device, talking on a hands-free cell phone and reading or sending a message on a cell phone.
“Distracted driving continues to be a prevalent issue on Colorado roads, but is easy to fix,” said Darrell Lingk, CDOT Director of the Office of Transportation Safety. “Every time you are tempted to reach for your phone or take your eyes off the road, stop and think about the lives at risk and make a safer decision.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Distracted Driving Awareness Month led by the National Safety Council (NSC) was rescheduled from April to October this year and CDOT is partnering with NSC this month to raise awareness.
For more information about distracted driving in Colorado, visit: distraction.codot.gov.
