NEWS RELEASE
COLORADO STATE PATROL
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Although there are many dangerous driving behaviors putting your safety and others in jeopardy, a driving action that could easily turn fatal is driving the wrong way down a road. The impact speed becomes your speed plus the other driver’s. This is the ultimate lane violation and the results are devastating for everyone.
From 2020 August 2023 the Colorado State Patrol has investigated 403 crashes involving wrong-way drivers statewide (Note: not all wrong way crashes are head-on or multi-vehicle). Wrong way crashes can result in different types of crashes, but head-on’s have the potential to be the most serious. Of 403 crashes, 42 resulted in serious injuries and 18 resulted in lost lives. Below are the top five counties accounting for the most crashes involving a wrong way driver
Top 5 counties:
- Adams - 42
- Jefferson - 38
- El Paso - 33
- Weld - 28
- Arapahoe - 26
While every situation is different and your options to avoid a crash with a wrong-way driver can vary widely, one of the best things you can do is to slow your speed and safely move to the shoulder of the roadway. Reducing your speed is one of the most important actions you can take because it reduces impact speed and, in turn, greatly reduces the severity of injury or possibility of death.
If you’re the wrong-way driver, immediately pull to the shoulder and stop. When it is safe, turn around and go in the correct direction. However, before you turn around, take a moment to evaluate yourself and determine if you should be driving at that time, and if necessary, arrange an alternate way to your destination.
To report a wrong way driver, please call *CSP (*277) and provide as much information as possible to include a description of the vehicle, driver, vehicle plate, location, and direction of travel. Do not attempt to follow the driver in the wrong direction.
Troopers continue to take a low-tolerance approach to the top fatal crash factors, including lane violations while launching a yearlong campaign called “Drive Safe.” This campaign reminds people to control their lane position based on their current driving environment.
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