Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive Event Set for Saturday in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS  — Interested in buying an electric car? Want to just test drive one?

Join CDOT and electric car experts for an Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive community event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2, at Phil Long EV Outlet located at 1338 Motor City Drive in Colorado Springs. Event parking will be across the street at Phil Long Hyundai of Motor City.

This event is free to the public and is designed to get consumers excited about the latest innovations in electric vehicles (EVs) by bringing together a wide array of makes and models in one place. With an expanding line-up by auto manufacturers, the event will showcase the most popular EVs with consumers today.

"There are so many more electric vehicles on the market than there were just a couple years ago," said Kay Kelly, CDOT's chief of Innovative Mobility. "This is a great opportunity for people to experience a lot of different electric vehicle options in one place and learn how easy it is to make the switch. Electric vehicles are the future of the auto industry and will be a significant part of how Colorado and other states reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

Ride in a hybrid or electric vehicle. See demonstrations of EV charging. Learn about state and federal tax incentives. Ask us questions about owning an EV. There'll be food trucks and music, too. For more information, contact [email protected] or go to driveelectric.codot.gov.

This event coincides with National Drive Electric Week (Sept. 25 - Oct. 3), a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles and more.

Sponsors of the event Saturday include: Xcel Energy; Colorado Springs Utilities; Drive Clean Colorado; the Colorado Springs EV Club; Cumulus Media; iHeart Media; KXRM-Fox21; Bahakel Media; Phil Long Dealerships; and Kangaroo Coffee.

Remember: Slow for the Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.

• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.

• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.

• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so

• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.

• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.

• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.

• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.

• Be patient!

Chain and Traction Laws

CDOT urges travelers to be aware of chain and traction law codes before heading out on the roadway.

• Code 18/Commercial Chain Law: Commercial vehicles and trucks must have chains. Vehicles without chains can often lose traction, causing traffic delays and sometimes road closures. For the safety of the traveling public, it's critical to use chains to be in compliance with Colorado's chain law.

• Code 15/Passenger Traction Law: All motorists are required to either have an all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle, or (for two-wheel drive vehicles) snow tires or all-weather tires with a mud/snow designation. Tread depth on all tires must be at least 3/16" regardless of vehicle type. Vehicles that do not meet these criteria must carry chain devices or alternative traction devices such as an AutoSock. The law focuses on passenger vehicles, as commercial vehicles have their own restrictions. It is unlawful to proceed when a state highway is closed or to proceed when a restriction is in effect without the required traction equipment. Violators will be given a citation, which comes with a $100 fine and $32 surcharge. That jumps to a $500 fine with a $156 surcharge if a violation results in the closure of one or more traffic lanes.

• Code 16/Passenger Chain Law: All passenger vehicles need chains, except for 4WD and AWD vehicles with all-weather tires with 3/16 inch tread depth.
  
  

COVID-19  

Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for all of us, particularly for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, CDOT maintenance and construction crews follow social distancing and other health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. The public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO by practicing social distancing and wearing face masks. As traffic returns to normal levels, motorists must drive cautiously and heed the speed limit so all of us can return home safely. 

Whole System. Whole Safety.

In early 2019, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This initiative takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.

About CDOT

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated inter-regional express service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s multimodal mobility options.