Colorado State Patrol Shares 5 Habits to Prevent Distracted Driving

Description: Colorado State Patrol urges drivers to stay focused after investigating 600 injury and fatal distracted-driving crashes in 2025 and shares five safer driving habits...


Published: 8 hours ago
Byline: SECO News

Distraction Doesn't Have to Control You

5 Habits of Highly Focused Drivers

(COLO) – Distracted Driving isn't seasonal; it's pervasive, and the Colorado State Patrol is asking for your attention behind the wheel. Troopers investigated 600 injury and fatal crashes caused by distracted driving in 2025 and issued 456 citations for violating Colorado's Hands-Free law.

"When we conduct crash investigations caused by distracted drivers, often it is a small thing that steals the drivers' focus from the most important thing at that moment - driving," stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. "Driving is never routine, even if we have routes that are repetitive. Other drivers' behavior, pedestrians, animals, and weather can require us to react quickly and adjust our speed."

In 2025, troopers identified the human factor in 954 distracted-driving crashes they investigated. They found that interior distractions (such as insects and non-food items on the floor and within the vehicle, excluding distractions caused by a passenger) topped the list. In fact, these distractions accounted for just over half of the crashes. Looking at all human factors for these 1,040 crashes:

  1. Distracted/Other Interior – 51.5% (493 crashes)
  2. Distracted/Other Exterior* – 28% (268 crashes)
  3. Distracted/Other Occupant – 8% (79 crashes)
  4. Distracted Eating/Drinking – 7% (65 crashes)
  5. Distracted/Manipulating Vehicle Control – 4% (38 crashes)
  6. Distracted Smoking – 1% (11 crashes)

The ability to safely multitask behind the wheel is a myth. Multi-tasking occurs when your attention switches back and forth between tasks very quickly. Reacting to changing driving conditions, adjusting speed, or staying within your designated driving lanes requires constant attention and focus.

Becoming a less distracted driver can be done by changing your mindset and habits every time you drive. The Colorado State Patrol recommends drivers start with the following 5 habits:

  1. Set your navigation, music, and car settings before leaving.
  2. Use "Do Not Disturb" mode on your phone and keep electronics deliberately out of reach.
  3. Make sure children and pets are correctly secured before driving.
  4. Make a rule to never eat or drink in the vehicle.
  5. If you are drowsy, pull off the road and take a quick nap or get re-energized.

*Distracted/Other Exterior (defined as): The driver was distracted by some other source located outside the vehicle (e.g., another crash, reading a billboard, road construction, etc.)

The Colorado State Patrol is focused on curbing dangerous, avoidable driving behaviors during Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer by sharing data and tips to encourage all Colorado drivers to focus on one task: driving. Colorado's Hands Free law went into effect on January 1, 2025. Seconds Matter, drop the distractions.



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