Colorado’s Western Slope offers breathtaking views. The roads also present some additional hazards that require motorists to be focused.
Whether it’s bicyclists, pedestrians, wildlife or road debris, situations can present themselves quickly, leaving drivers with critical decisions in a short amount of time. Driving above the speed limit or a safe speed for the existing conditions can create deadly results.
In 2023, Colorado State Patrol (CSP) troopers investigated 163 serious injury or fatal crashes between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend on Colorado’s Western Slope. Among the leading factors were drivers exceeding a safe speed and lane violations.
While many risky behaviors ramp up over the weekend, such as driving impaired and lane violations, CSP data indicates that speeding crashes on the Western Slope are most common on Mondays and Fridays.
“The data suggests that many of our speeding-caused crashes could stem from over-confidence and local drivers’ complacency,” explained Maj. Brett Williams, District Commander for Region 5 of the CSP. “Speed limits are there for your safety, and if everyone follows them, traffic flow will also be enhanced.”
Recreational travelers can play an important role in reducing aggressive and reckless driving behavior by pulling over in a safe place and allowing long lines of traffic behind them to pass. On roads with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, vehicles should stay in the right lane except to pass.
For more driving tips, visit https://csp.colorado.gov/super-cruising-in-colorado.
