CDOT releases Colorado driver behavior survey results for 2022

COLORADO. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is releasing results from its 2022 Driver Behavior Survey, which provides a snapshot of how often people speed, drive impaired, buckle up and drive distracted.

The survey also looked at motorcycle riders' habits.

CDOT says that while incidences of some self-reported behaviors decreased, results show that some Coloradans are still making choices that put other drivers, pedestrians, and themselves at risk. 

"A number of the behaviors reported by drivers undoubtedly contributed to the rise in traffic fatalities last year. This survey helps CDOT understand what is actually happening on our roads so we can adjust our awareness and outreach efforts accordingly,” said CDOT's Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. "These are personal choices drivers make, and we're asking everyone to be accountable and drive like their lives depend on it."

Areas like seat belt use, speeding, driving while distracted, driving while impaired, and motorcycle safety were focused on by CDOT.

CDOT says that 89% of respondents reported that they wear their seat belts all the time but, one out of five Colorado drivers said they buckled up less frequently when driving close to home. Seat belt use dropped to 80% when taking a trip within two miles.

CDOT also reported that Colorado drivers were less likely to speed on neighborhood roads than on highways.  Most Colorado drivers said they drive over the speed limit on main highways (73%) and local highways (71%) at least some of the time. However, this dropped to 50% of drivers when considering main city/town roads and less than a third when considering neighborhood roads with speed limits of 25-35 MPH.

CDOT classified distracted driving as driving while eating and drinking, selecting entertainment by hand, and talking on a phone. Other notable findings about driving while distracted are below.

• 62% of Colorado drivers said they ate food or drank beverages.
• 57% said they selected entertainment on a cellphone, CD player, radio, or another device.  
• 28% reported reading messages on their phone.
• 17% reported sending messages on their phone. 
• About half of drivers who use their phones while driving said they would stop doing so if their car had a hands-free feature.

CDOT reports that one out of every five respondents reported driving a motor vehicle within two hours of consuming alcohol. However, fewer Coloradans believe that they would receive a DUI for driving under the influence of cannabis (54%) than alcohol (70%). 

74% of motorcycle riders said that they wear a helmet all the time. Nearly two out of three drivers (65%) said they give motorcycles extra space when following all the time and 92% said they did this at least most of the time, according to CDOT.

CDOT conducts the yearly survey of Colorado residents to assess trends in traffic safety and better understand the attitudes and behaviors of the state’s drivers. For complete survey results, click here.