Distracted Driving Is Still A Serious Problem In Colorado
According to CDOT’s Problem Identification Report, distracted driving was the third leading cause of traffic crashes in Colorado, and from 2012 to 2022, 718 Coloradans lost their lives in distracted driving crashes. While texting is certainly one of the primary distractions drivers face, the problem goes much deeper. Drivers tend to believe they can continue multi-tasking while behind the wheel, but science tells a very different story.
Cognitive scientist David Meyer at the University of Michigan has studied how the brain handles multiple tasks simultaneously. His research shows that when you perform multiple tasks that require the same mental processing channels, your brain cannot truly do both at once. Instead, it rapidly switches back and forth between tasks, and neither one gets the attention it deserves. Even the most confident multi-tasker will eventually crash and burn when attempting to resolve simultaneous competing demands. When one of those tasks is driving at highway speeds, the consequences can be fatal.
When you are behind the wheel, your brain uses its language processing channel to read road signs, monitor traffic, and plan your next move. If you are simultaneously having a phone conversation, either your conversation or your driving will suffer. There is no in-between.
Colorado’s Distracted Driving Problem By The Numbers
CDOT’s 2023 Driver Behavior Survey found that 76% of Colorado drivers reported using their phone while driving, up from 67% in 2022. Of this group, 45% reported using a handheld phone while driving in just the past seven days. By 2024, that number had climbed to 77%. These are not outliers or edge cases — they represent the overwhelming majority of drivers sharing Colorado’s roads.
A CDOT report from 2024 shows that distracted drivers are involved in up to 11% of traffic fatalities in Colorado. And the problem extends beyond vehicle occupants. According to the CDC, one in five people killed by distracted drivers were not in a vehicle at all — they were walking, riding their bikes, or otherwise outside a vehicle.
Colorado’s New Hands-Free Law
As of January 1, 2025, Colorado joined more than 30 other states by enacting a hands-free law that prohibits drivers from holding or using a mobile device while driving. Hands-free accessories such as dashboard mounts and Bluetooth systems are permitted. Penalties for violating the new law start with a $75 fine and two license suspension points for a first offense. First-time violators can have the charge dismissed by providing proof of purchasing a hands-free accessory. Repeat offenders face higher fines and more license suspension points.
The early results are encouraging. In the first five months of 2025, Colorado State Patrol responded to 1,161 crashes involving inattentive driving, a 19% decrease from the 1,432 crashes that occurred during the same period in 2024. Nationally, distracted driving fell 8.6% in 2024, preventing an estimated 105,000 crashes, 59,000 injuries, and 480 fatalities. Laws work when they are enforced and taken seriously.
Common Driving Distractions Beyond Your Phone
While phone use gets the most attention, distracted driving includes any activity that takes your eyes, hands, or mind off the task of driving. Common distractions include eating and drinking, adjusting the radio or climate controls, programming GPS while moving, talking to passengers, turning around to check on children in the back seat, and personal grooming. Any of these behaviors, even for just a few seconds, can put you and everyone around you at serious risk.
At 70 mph, taking your eyes off the road for just three seconds means traveling the length of a football field without looking where you are going. That is more than enough distance for everything to go catastrophically wrong.
Tips To Reduce Distracted Driving
- Place your phone in the back seat, glove box, or your bag before you start driving. If you cannot see or hear it, the temptation is eliminated.
- Set up a voicemail message letting people know you are driving and will call back when you arrive safely.
- Use your phone’s Do Not Disturb While Driving feature, which automatically silences notifications when it detects you are in a moving vehicle.
- Program your GPS and select your music before you pull out of your driveway, not while you are moving.
- If you must use your phone, pull over and park in a safe location first.
- Do not eat while driving. Spills and dropped food are a surprisingly common source of distraction and have caused serious accidents.
- Make sure children understand that your full attention must stay on the road and that you cannot turn around or reach into the back seat while driving.
- Discourage friends and family from calling or texting you when they know you are on the road.
Contact Our Colorado Springs Car Accident Attorneys
When a distracted driver injures you or someone you love, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. At Rector Stuzynski Law Firm, our Colorado Springs car accident attorneys have the experience and resources to build a strong case designed to obtain maximum compensation for our clients. Call us today at (719) 578-1106 for a free consultation. We are available 24/7 and ready to help.
