Colorado roads became deadlier during the pandemic. Officials Are Trying To Reverse That Trend By Targeting Young Drivers – CBS Denver

(CBS4) – The Colorado State Patrol is conducting a new campaign to protect the youngest drivers through the end of the school year.

The campaign, called “Don’t Chase Cool,” is aimed at drivers aged 16 to 21. The aim is to encourage young people to drive more slowly on the road and develop good driving habits. According to the CSP, 9,240 speeding violations were issued to drivers in this age group.

“We see meth, we see cocaine, we see cannabis, combined with alcohol, and when you combine those substances it really amplifies your impairment and can lead to a much more dangerous situation on our roads,” said CDOT Traffic Safety Communications Manager Sam Cole. “I think that has a lot to do with why we see a third of traffic accidents on our roads involve an impaired driver.”

CSP is also trying to curb speed habits among younger men. CDOT explains that as more drivers left the streets during the pandemic, more young men took to the streets and drove recklessly on open roads. As more and more people got back on the road, reckless driving didn’t stop leading to more accidents.

“People often say speed doesn’t kill, but it does because it limits your ability to stop in time, or make a left or right correction, or be devastating without rolling the vehicle,” said Gary Cutler, Master Trooper of the Colorado State Patrol.

Another reason the CSP and CDOT want the youngest drivers to develop good driving habits has to do with an increase in road fatalities. According to the CDOT, 691 drivers died in car accidents last year. That’s the highest number since 2002. According to CDOT, 14% of drivers don’t buckle up.

Another has to do with multi-disability driving, where people drive while drunk while using other drugs.

“It causes more accidents. it creates more problems on the roadway. And when we stop someone who has done that, they’re lucky to be stopped for us, because the alternative is they could hurt someone or kill someone or even themselves,” Cutler said.

76 people died in traffic accidents this year. CSP and CDOT hope the emphasis on poly-disabled drivers and the Don’t Chase Cool campaign, which ends May 30, will help keep Colorado’s streets safer.

“We want people to start buckling up. Compliance with the speed limit. Driving never affected. Get into this habit when they’re a young rider so they keep these good habits throughout their lives,” said Cole.