Crime & Safety

Colorado Traffic Deaths Dropping

One third of the way through the year, Colorado is on pace to match a 15-year low. After five straight years of increases.

If this keeps up, or should we say down, Colorado will break its tragic streak of five straight years with increasing numbers of people dying on the road. Numbers released Monday show the state on trend to have its lowest number of traffic fatalities in years.

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As of April 30, there had been 130 traffic deaths across the state. At that pace, there would be 390 by year's end, easily the lowest in more than 15 years. The previous low was in 2011 when 447 people died.

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In 2016, there were 608 traffic deaths - one of the highest in the past 15 years.

The state has been making a concerted effort to bring the number of deaths down - in no small part by focusing on distracted driving.

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There are still a lot of holidays ahead - Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day - that are often notable for fatal crashes.

Graphic via Colorado Department of Transportation

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