Colorado has long struggled with traffic fatalities, and recent years have highlighted just how serious the problem can be. In 2022, the state tragically lost 745 lives on its roads, the highest total since 1981. While preliminary data for 2023 and early 2024 show a modest decline in fatalities, the picture remains complex.

One reason the numbers can be misleading is that danger isn’t evenly spread across the state. A study by Dan Caplis Law identified the deadliest 10-mile stretches of road in Colorado, with many located on major interstates like I‑70 and I‑25. These “hot spots” concentrate a surprising number of fatal crashes, year after year. Even as overall statewide totals fluctuate, these stretches remain consistently dangerous, showing that progress in one area doesn’t automatically translate everywhere.

Rising Road Fatalities in Colorado

Several factors contribute to these trends:

  • Dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding and impaired driving from alcohol continue to be major contributors.
  • Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, make up a growing share of fatalities, especially on high-speed roads lacking proper infrastructure.
  • Road design and infrastructure play a significant role; many deadly stretches weren’t built with modern safety standards, leaving sharp curves, limited lighting, and other hazards.
  • Lack of protective wear, such as helmets, padding, or reflective clothing, increases the risk of severe injury or death for motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Despite these challenges, there are encouraging signs. Emergency response improvements, better road designs, and public safety campaigns all contribute to reducing fatalities. Programs like Colorado’s Advancing Transportation Safety Program (ATSP) and the Triennial Highway Safety Plan target unsafe behaviors and road conditions with both education and enforcement.

What Is Being Done For Safer Roads in Colorado

Colorado’s safety programs are taking a multi-pronged approach:

  • Safer road designs and engineering improvements on high-risk corridors. 
  • Public education campaigns targeting speeding, impaired driving, and seat belt use. 
  • Enhanced emergency response to help crash victims survive.

These strategies show the state is taking fatalities seriously. However, the Dan Caplis Law study reminds us that certain road segments remain persistently deadly. Targeted interventions on these high-risk stretches are essential to further reduce deaths.

Are Fatalities Improving or Worsening in Colorado?

In the short term, there is hope, but the long-term picture is more complicated. While statewide totals fluctuate, the deadliest stretches of road remain stubbornly dangerous, meaning true progress depends on focused, corridor-specific interventions.

Colorado’s roads are safer than they were in the past, but the numbers serve as a reminder that vigilance is essential. Whether commuting, running errands, or taking a weekend drive, awareness and caution, particularly on the state’s deadliest stretches, can make all the difference.