Colorado Tries To End Distracted Driving, Calling It "Killer Habit"

Distracted driving in Colorado is a "killer habit" that kills more people every year, according the Department of Transportation. They want it to stop.

"Coloradans are not paying attention to how dangerous distracted driving really is," said CDOT's Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk, kicking off National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

"CDOT plans to address this disconnect and our collective addiction to our phones this summer through our Drop the Distraction campaign."

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According to the department:

• In 2015, 68 deaths and 15,574 crashes involved Colorado distracted drivers.
• Distracted driving fatalities are increasing in Colorado.
• In 2015, 68 (13 percent) of the 546 Colorado traffic fatalities were caused by distracted driving. In 2014, 59 (12 percent) of the 488 Colorado traffic fatalities were caused by distracted driving.
• Distracted driving is a problem across all age groups.
• CDOT found that 37.4 percent of Colorado distracted driving crashes between 2012-2014 was people between the ages of 21 and 34.
• Preliminary data indicates that in 2015, cellphones were a contributing factor in 17 fatal Colorado crashes.

"We want to stress just how dangerous distracted driving is. Troopers are responding to more and more crashes caused by distracted drivers," said Scott Hernandez, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

"It's our responsibility to cite reckless and distracted drivers year-round in order to keep Colorado roads safe."

Last year, the department unveiled a PSA, The Killer Habit, as part of its Drop The Distraction campaign.

Image via CDOT