Drivers Causing 'Safety Crisis' In South Metro Denver: CSP

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — Reckless driving has surged in Arapahoe and Douglas counties, particularly along Interstate 25, Colorado State Patrol said.

By October, fatal crashes were up 66 percent in the region compared to the same time last year, the agency said.

“The 2021 crash picture is the worst we have seen in Colorado in over five years,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

“We are lowering our tolerance on what may have once been given a warning. Our southern Denver metro area down I-25 is facing a safety crisis and we know that visibility and strong enforcement will save lives.”

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Driving while distracted, speeding and driving while impaired are among the top causes of crashes in the region, Colorado State Patrol said.

The agency ramped up patrols before Thanksgiving and plans to continue concentrated operations throughout the holidays. More drivers are being cited for lane violations, the agency said.

“We’re losing ground. It’s time to take the responsibilities of driving seriously,” Packard said.

“We have to do better. You have a responsibility to your community, to your loved ones, and to yourself to focus while behind the wheel and stop buying into the myth that it is okay to drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.”

Some of the worst times for serious and fatal crashes in the area were Saturdays from 11 a.m. through the early evening and weekday evening rush hour periods, Colorado State Patrol said.