State Patrol reports more than 500 traffic deaths so far this year

After a handful of recent fatal crashes, including one in Pueblo on Monday, Colorado State Patrol has reported more than 500 traffic deaths in the state so far this year.

Police say the rules might sound like common sense.

"Slow down, buckle up, and don't drive impaired,” said Sergeant Blake White. "So it's these things that we constantly preach to people saying don't do these things, or fix this behavior, and they're not doing them so people are dying on the roads."

Last year, El Paso County had the most traffic deaths in Colorado at 85 fatalities out of a total 632 across the state.

As of last week, there've been 56 deaths in the county this year. But Sergeant White says the exact numbers aren't what matters.

"That's a lot of people, that's a lot of families, that's a lot of communities that have been impacted by this,” said White.

He says you can make a difference by taking a step back and not always pointing fingers.

"It's looking at yourself and realizing that it may be your driving as well, not just everybody else on the road,” he said.

And, if you're not the rule-breaker, you can still do your part.

Law enforcement wants to remind everyone that if you see someone driving erratically, call 911 and you might just save an innocent person’s life.

"What we ask is that people step up on this because we can't do this alone,” White said.