A new Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) survey reveals troubling driving habits across the state, even after stricter safety laws took effect.
Speeding Still Common — Especially on Highways
In CDOT’s annual driver behavior survey, conducted by Corona Insights with nearly 1,700 residents, more than 33% of respondents admitted to speeding regularly. While only 18% said they speed most or all the time overall, the number jumps to 36% on highways and interstates.
Drivers in Denver skewed the statistics upward — 22% of metro drivers reported speeding most or all the time, compared to 14% in other regions. On neighborhood roads, just 10% admitted to frequent speeding, and under 20% did so on main city or town roads.
Phone Use Persists Despite Hands-Free Law
Colorado’s 2025 hands-free law bans holding or touching a phone while driving without a hands-free device. While crashes from distracted driving have dropped, nearly half of drivers still admit to using a phone behind the wheel.
From 2024 to 2025, the percentage of drivers texting or calling without hands-free dropped from 53% to 46%. Yet, nearly 90% of those offenders knew about the law but ignored it.
Younger Drivers Take More Risks
The survey highlights concerning trends among drivers aged 18–24:
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44% text without hands-free devices — more than double the 18% of older drivers.
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17% believe they can safely drive under the influence of cannabis, compared to just 7% of drivers over 24.
CDOT’s Response
Darrell Lingk, Director of CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety, said the results show both progress and ongoing challenges:
“These findings will help CDOT continue to develop targeted efforts that address risky behaviors and improve the overall safety of our roads.”
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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