Crash ahead? Five rules to live by

Crash Responder Safety Week begins Nov. 18

Nov. 18, 2024 - It's Crash Responder Safety Week. So what leads to these preventable crashes? Learn more about the top five rules to live by to prevent collisions with roadside vehicles.
Wrecked Colorado State Patrol vehicle on the roadside. The patrol vehicle was hit by a passing motorist.
Wrecked Colorado State Patrol vehicle on the roadside. The patrol vehicle was hit by a passing motorist.

By: Sam Cole, CDOT Traffic Safety Communications Manager
Nov. 18, 2024

We see it often in Colorado — cars stuck, broken down, or crashed on the side of the road, with emergency responders, CDOT maintenance and Safety Patrol, or tow trucks there to help. Sadly, we also see a tragic number of secondary crashes where motorists run into people and vehicles on the roadside, leading to serious injuries and fatalities. Not to mention far too many close calls. Access the Close Call | Move Over, It's the Law video on Facebook to witness this close encounter.

CDOT recently faced a painful reminder when in September of this year. Two CDOT maintainers, Nathan Jones and Trent Umberger, were killed while doing road maintenance on US 6 in Mesa County.

Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 marks the start of Crash Responder Safety Week (NCRSW) — an opportunity to positively shift driver behavior, encourage understanding of Move Over laws, and promote life-saving Traffic Incident Management training.

Government officials, safety advocates, law enforcement and CDOT standing around Governor Polis while he signs the proclamation.
Governor Jared Polis signs the Crash Responder Safety Week proclamation. Spokespeople in attendance from left to right: John Cater, FHWA Colorado Division Administrator; Gina Espinosa-Salcedo, NHTSA Regional Administrator; Shoshana Lew, CDOT Executive Director; Governor Jared Polis; Detective Josh Koen, Denver Police Department; Chief Ron Thomas, Denver Police Department.

So what leads to these preventable crashes? Keep reading to learn more about the top five rules to live by to prevent collisions with roadside vehicles.

  1. Move over

    Colorado's Move Over Law requires all drivers to move over one lane, if possible, when law enforcement, first responders, tow trucks, or even disabled vehicles, are stopped on the side of the roadway. If a driver can’t move over they must slow down. The penalty for failing to abide by the law includes a Class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense — which pales in comparison to the human cost if you hit someone on the roadside. Just recently, a Colorado State Patrol officer was killed in a roadside collision. Learn about how a Golden officer killed has sparked discussion on the Move Over law on YouTube.

    Colorado State Patrol “Slow down, move over” video

  2. Mind the speed limit


    According to CDOT’s Annual Driver Behavior Survey, 69% of Colorado drivers reported driving over the speed limit on main highways. This is especially dangerous when driving near first responders (or any motorist or maintenance worker) on the side of the road. Remember, always be aware of signs announcing speed reductions leading into incident areas where responders may be working.

  3. Keep your eyes on the road


    Rounding a tight curve, driving at night, coming over the top of a hill — in all these situations, roadside incidents can come up unexpectedly. If you’re looking at your phone, engaging with your car’s entertainment system, or even watching your kids in the rearview mirror, taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds can lead to tragedy.

    Pay attention, stay alert, save a life. A new Colorado law is in effect on Jan. 1, 2025, that prohibits drivers from using a mobile phone while driving — though hands-free accessories are permitted. To learn more about the law, visit our Hands-Free Information and Resources page.

  4. Never drive drunk or impaired by drugs

    Driving drunk or impaired by cannabis or other drugs account for a third of all roadway fatalities in Colorado. In addition to impaired judgment and slowed reaction time, a major effect of driving while impaired is lane departure. That means swerving in and out of your lane and greatly increasing the likelihood of crashing into objects or people who may only be a few feet off the roadway. Never drive impaired. For more information and resources, visit our alcohol Impaired Driving page and marijuana Drugged Driving page.

    Graphic showing a mother holding a picture of her child who was killed by an impaired driver. Text says “1 in 3 fatal car crashes involves an impaired driver.Graphic showing a mother holding a picture of her child who was killed by an impaired driver. Text says one in three fatal car crashes involves an impaired driver.

  5. Be prepared for winter conditions

    Colorado road conditions in winter can be brutal — from the Eastern Plains to the Western Slope. Rules like the statewide Colorado Traction Law aim to prevent roadway (and roadside) crashes. We can’t overstate the importance of having all-weather tires and appropriate tread depth in the winter months. Poor traction causes cars to slide off the road and increases the risk of other cars sliding into those vehicles and the responders there to help. Prepare for winter’s challenges. Find tips, resources, and even discounts on winter tires, by visiting CDOT’s Winter Wise webpage.

    Are you ready for the traction law? Click above to start CDOT's Winter Wise Colorado Traction Law quiz.


    Access the Interactive Traction Law Tree (PDF)

Every year, CDOT Division of Maintenance and Operations workers, law enforcement, fire and rescue, EMS, public works, towing, and other responders put their lives at risk to clear the state’s more than 100,000 motor vehicle crashes as well as the broader range of roadway incidents such as stalled vehicles or roadway debris. Responders are the first on the scene, protecting every road user, and they deserve to be kept safe by drivers.

So join us in working together to keep incident responders safe this Crash Responder Safety Week. Learn more stories about CDOT’s Division of Maintenance and Operations and learn about careers at on the CDOT Job Openings page. 

About the Author:

Picture of Sam Cole, CDOT Traffic Safety Communications Manager
Sam Cole, CDOT safety communications manager, has managed CDOT’s traffic safety campaigns since 2014. In this capacity, he has overseen the development and implementation of mass media campaigns as well as public relations efforts including The Heat is On, Distracted Driving, Child Passenger Safety and The Cannabis Conversation.