Keep Your Cool, Colorado: Colorado State Patrol wants you to be the solution to our speeding problem (CSP)

As final numbers continue coming in for 2023’s traffic fatalities and driving trends, one thing is obvious for Colorado State Troopers: speeding remains a persistent and serious problem on Colorado’s roadways.

According to fatal and injury data for crashes investigated by CSP troopers from Jan. 1 through Dec.19, 2023, speeding has jumped from second place in 2021 and 2022 and now sits as the top causal factor for 2023.

“Speeding is likely the most disobeyed law in our nation because too many drivers want to ignore the relationship between driving the speed limit and road safety,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “The solution to safer streets rests with each one of us. For drivers, our message is to be the solution to our traffic safety problem. Drive the speed limit and drive focused.”

As of Dec. 26, 2023, troopers had investigated 2,722 fatal and injury crashes around the state that included speed as a factor. Speeding was found to be the top causal factor for 652 of those crashes, followed by lane violations (611) and distracted driving (551).

The counties that had the most fatalities caused by speeding (based on the crashes referred to above) were:

• Adams
• El Paso
• Mesa
• Pueblo
• Mineral

In addition to speed enforcement activities across the state, CSP has launched a three-month awareness campaign to promote positive driving behavior even when the temptation to speed or drive aggressively exists. This multi-week “Keep Your Cool” campaign features actual CSP troopers riding with Colorado license holders and celebrating their positive, cool demeanor behind the wheel, despite the different challenging scenarios. This campaign includes social media posts, digital ads, radio PSAs and more.

“Drivers often believe that speeding is OK for them because they have confidence in their own driving abilities,” explained Col. Packard. “The reality is that physics works the same for all of us. Speeding gives you less time to react to the unplanned and lessens the likelihood of you, your passengers, and anyone else involved walking away from a crash.”

Troopers continue to take a low-tolerance approach to the top fatal crash factors, including lane violations, impaired driving, and speeding, while launching a yearlong campaign called “Drive Safe.” This campaign celebrates positive driving behaviors and encourages all of us to drive like a trooper is riding with you.