Driving a vehicle is dangerous. Driving a vehicle over mountain passes and in condensation and stormy winter conditions can compound these dangers.
While many people drive on a daily basis for a work commute, drop children and loved ones off at locations and to handle grocery shopping, other individuals fail to understand the dangers associated with driving. Driving is likely the most dangerous activity that the majority of individuals partake in, in any given day, and many continue to drive distracted, while impaired or when tired.
Although Colorado experiences vast amounts of precipitation in the form of snow in the winter, the winter months in Colorado are not the most dangerous time of year for drivers. Rather the most dangerous times of year for driving in Colorado may not be when you think.
What Month Has the Most Fatal Auto Accidents in Colorado?
From a fatal accident standpoint, the time of year when the roads are slick does not correlate to the most fatalities for any of the five years from 2016-2020. Rather the largest amounts of fatal accidents and statewide fatalities occurred in the Summer Months.
Between the years of 2016-2020, there were 2,682 fatal injuries reported from auto accidents in Colorado. The highest months for fatal accidents occurred in the Summer months. There was one instance of September (2016), two instances of June (2017,2018) and two instances of August (2019,2020).
While it may be easy to believe that driving in snowy conditions would lead to a correlation between fatal accidents, it is also important to remember that if a driver is driving in heavy snow conditions, the driver along with the flow of traffic, is more than likely driving at a much lower speed compared to an individual with an open road in the summer. If you are driving in the snow with chains or cables affixed to your tires, do not exceed 30 miles per hour when driving with added traction on your tires.
It’s important to remember to adjust your speed in the snow and to decrease the speed as needed to account for bad traction, snow and/or ice on the roads. Many individuals stay home during snow storms which in turn can limit accidents and save lives.
What Steps Can I Take to Avoid an Auto Accident in Colorado?
While not all auto accidents can be avoided, there are things that people have within their control to help limit auto accidents. Some of the most common causes of auto accidents include distracted driving, driving while impaired and speeding.
Speeding is a leading contributor to Colorado auto accidents in the United States. More than two thirds of all drivers traveling exceed the speed limit. Based on the data from 2016-2020, speeding in the Summer months can be a contributing factor to fatal auto accidents.
Never drive while tired, impaired or while distracted. Texting and driving has shown a serious reduction in reaction time in people that drive distracted.
If you are tired, have a passenger drive for the vehicle or pull off to a rest stop and take a nap. Do not continue to drive if you are feeling tired. This can result in an accident. The symptoms between drowsy driving can be similar to drunk driving, so if you are tired get adequate rest needed or have another member of the vehicle drive.
Sources:
2016 Colorado Department of Transportation Fatal Crash Data
2017 Colorado Department of Transportation Fatal Crash Data
2018 Colorado Department of Transportation Fatal Crash Data
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