By Shannon Lukens.

 

More Colorado drivers are being issued citations for distracted driving, and also improper or careless driving.

April is National Distracted Driving Month.

Last year, Colorado State Patrol Troopers issued 15,553 citations, which was up 4.5% from the year before. The age group with the most distracted driving citations were 22 to 29-year-olds.

 

 

Press release from Colorado State Patrol; April 1, 2024

Distracted Driving Is No Joke

Troopers issued 4.5% more citations for improper or careless driving in 2023

(COLO) – April is National Distracted Driving Month, and the Colorado State Patrol doesn’t want you to be fooled; if a trooper sees you driving distracted, a citation for improper, reckless or careless driving could soon be on your way. Last year, Colorado State Troopers issued 15,553 of these citations, a 4.5% increase over 2022.

“Distraction starts from within us; our impatience, boredom, stress, or even fatigue and distractions can become deadly when a person is driving a vehicle,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “It is up to all of us to be aware of the temptation of distraction. Driving needs to be the sole focus, no matter how experienced at driving you believe you are.”

When looking at 2023 citation data from the Colorado State Patrol, inattention to driving showed up in every age category, but the top five were:

1) 22-29 year olds (3,637)

2) 30-39 year olds (3,443)

3) 18-21 year olds (2,253)

4) 40-49 year olds (2,162)

5) 50-59 year olds (1495)

In addition, the Colorado State Patrol ranked the most common roads for improper, reckless or careless citations. While I-25 and I-70 claimed the top two locations, the third location could not be specifically identified as rural roads and neighborhood streets superseded any other national or state highways in Colorado.

“When you see someone leave their lane or fail to stop at a light or stop sign, these behaviors are considered improper, reckless or careless,” stated Col. Packard. “We take these ‘simple’ violations seriously because they can lead to the worst kind of crashes with the biggest cost being the loss of human life.”