Colorado State Patrol to address deadly driving behaviors on Colorado roadways

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KRDO)-- Colorado State Patrol (CSP) is teaming up with Colorado law enforcement to share its efforts to curb crash fatalities and address alarming trends within communities and across the state. 

At Crown Hill Cemetery, CSP and local officers held a press conference speaking on the 41-year high in driving related deaths that Colorado saw in 2022.

In 2021, 672 people died across Colorado in traffic crashes, which then jumped to 754 last year.

In 2022, El Paso County accounted for 83 of those deaths, tied with Adams County for the most in Colorado, and ranked second in impaired driving deaths, with 27.

Now, CSP, along with partners like the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakewood Police Department, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPCSO), are saying they're taking an "unapologetic approach" toward enforcing traffic safety across the state, and urging drivers to have honest conversations with their loves ones about being safer on the roads.

"You will see police officer cars and deputy cars all throughout the state with one primary mission  to save lives on Colorado's roads. And we will be strict enforcers of the law. If you get stopped by a trooper, you can expect to be held accountable appropriately for the driving behavior - the dangerous driving behavior, that you were engaged in." stated State Patrol Chief, Colonel Matthew Packard.

You can expect to see more troopers and local county officers stationed along major highway corridors, such as I-25, I-70, highway 160 and I-76 and other high traffic roadways.