We rarely spare a moment’s concern when stepping into a vehicle to go to work, school, or any one of the countless errands and activities for which we drive daily. Yet, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated about 29,135 people did not make it to their destinations in 2024 but instead were fatally injured in traffic accidents. This includes a significant percentage of traffic fatalities in Colorado.
Colorado’s Early 2024 Car Accident Numbers
With challenging mountain roads, busy ski and tourist areas, and bustling urban meccas, Colorado is fairly high on the list of states with alarming car accident fatalities per year, with 1.42 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in the most recent fully analyzed data year. Preliminary statistics released by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for Colorado motor vehicle accidents during the first six months of 2024 (January 1 to June 30) reveal the following:
- 294 car accident fatalities occurred during the first six months of 2024
- There were 91 fatalities due to drunk drivers
- 52 motorcycle fatalities occurred
- 36 fatalities occurred to children under the age of 18
- 47 pedestrian and 3 bicyclist fatalities occurred
During those first six months of 2024, 90 of the car accident fatalities occurred to motorists who were not wearing seatbelts, a decrease over the same period in 2023. The fully analyzed data from 2023 shows around 94,000 total car accidents in Colorado with 659 fatalities that year.
What the Statistics Show As Colorado’s Leading Causes of Car Accidents
Inclement weather, slippery road conditions, poor visibility, and confusing roadway designs with inadequate signage all contribute to car accident numbers in Colorado; however, driver error—negligence—is the leading cause of accidents. The following careless, reckless, or wrongful actions cause the majority of car accidents in Colorado:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Aggressive driving
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper merging
- Failing to adjust speed and stopping distance to weather and road conditions
Overall traffic fatalities in Colorado decreased in 2024 compared to 2023.
Colorado Drivers Reveal Disturbing Trends
In one recent self-reporting Colorado driver survey, Colorado drivers admitted to alarming driving behaviors, including the following:
- 19% of surveyed drivers in Colorado admitted to frequently exceeding the speed limit
- 63% admitted to eating and drinking while driving
- 28% revealed that they read texts while driving
- 7% admit that they drive after using cannabis
- 10% of surveyed Colorado drivers admitted that they never stop for pedestrians on crosswalks
The same survey also revealed that 90% of self-reporting drivers wear their seatbelts.
Car Accident Collision Statistics
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), most car accident fatalities occur in two-car collisions, despite this type of accident making up 43% of all car accidents. National estimates in a single recent year show the dangers of the following types of collisions:
- 44.9% of two-car accidents were angle (T-bone) collisions resulting in 8,800 fatalities
- 29.6% of two-car crashes were head-on collisions causing 5,800 deaths
- 17.3% of two-car accidents were rear-end collisions resulting in 3,400 fatalities
- 8.2% of two-car collisions were sideswipe accidents with 1,600 deaths
In the same year, 12,200 deaths occurred in collisions between a car and a fixed object. Contact Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. for legal help today.