The first week of daylight saving time is always a time for Colorado residents to be more careful on the road. The reason is that the loss of one hour of sleep makes everyone drowsy, raising the risk for crashes. In fact, a study published in Current Biology has found that there are 6% more fatal car crashes in the U.S. during the first week of DST. An estimated 28 more fatal crashes occur in this week each year, and many more that do not end in death likely occur as well.
Spring DST increases fatal crash numbers in its first week
Improved technologies can present a safety risk
Many Colorado drivers are excited about the potential for increased safety presented by many newer vehicle technologies. Systems like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist have developed out of the research into autonomous driving. They make it possible for cars to sense distance from those ahead and stay in their lanes. These technologies have significant potential to make the roadways safer, making accidents less likely. However, some road safety advocates warn that such promising technologies may actually increase the risk of dangerous collisions when they're used improperly.
Top causes of wintertime motor vehicle accidents
As a resident of Colorado, you don't have to wonder if you'll come face-to-face with inclement weather this winter season. You know that it will happen, it's just a matter of when.
Fatal crashes kill more pedestrians, cyclists
The number of fatalities among drivers and passengers in car accidents in Colorado and across the country declined in 2018. While this seems like good news, it came alongside other disturbing statistics that show that pedestrian and cyclist deaths are continuing to rise. The data are prompting some advocates and agencies to consider more stringent safety standards to protect walkers and bikers on the road. During 2018, over 36,000 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes across the country. This number represents a small decline from 2017, but it also still indicates a serious problem with roadway safety.
2019 Operation Safe Driver Week ends in close to 47,000 citations
Every year in Colorado and across the U.S., the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance designates one week as a time of increased traffic law enforcement. In 2019, this initiative, called Operation Safe Driver Week, was undertaken between July 14 and 20. Law enforcement officers wound up issuing 46,752 citations and 87,624 warnings to passenger vehicle and CMV drivers for various traffic offenses.
How can your teen become a safe driver?
The years have been flying by, and before you know it, your Colorado teen is asking you to help her or him learn how to drive. In fact, for many teens a license becomes a necessity because it enables them to get to school or to a job more easily. Whether this is your first child or your sixth, is it a somewhat scary concept to think of your child operating a car on the road. How can you help your teen become a safer driver?
Fatalities caused by red-light runners are on the rise
According to a recent report from AAA, drivers running red lights and causing fatal accidents has reached a 10-year high. From 2012 to 2017, the rate of collisions caused by drivers who ran red lights increased 28%. In almost half the cases that involved a fatality, the people killed were either drivers or passengers in cars hit by red-light violators. Approximately one-third of the victims were the drivers who ran the light.
There are many causes of car-truck accidents
When driving your car on the interstate around the Denver area, you'll typically find yourself surrounded by large commercial trucks.
5 steps to take after a crash in Denver
Crashes are fairly common in Denver, and they can significantly impact the people involved. Whether the injuries are minor or severe, they have to miss time doing the things they planned to deal with hospital visits, filing claims and more.
A rear-end collision can cause significant injuries
One of the most dangerous types of crashes you can get into is a rear-end crash. It has the potential to push your vehicle into an intersection, into the vehicle in front of you or to pin your vehicle.
