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The top contributing factors to traffic crashes in Denver are speeding, distraction, not wearing seatbelts, and impairment. Because cars travel fast and are heavy, people operating vehicles have an extra responsibility to take care and be safe on our roadways.

Five things you can do to be a safer driver:

1. Slow down. Reducing speed limits by just 10 MPH can lower the chance of a fatal outcome by up to 40%.
2. Buckle up. Always wear a seatbelt on every trip, no matter how short. Make sure your passengers are buckled up safe too.
3. Eliminate distractions. Distractions impact how long it takes you to see and react to a potential impact. Phones down, eyes on the road.
4. Designate a sober driver. Alcohol, marijuana, drowsiness, and drugs all impact your ability to see, perceive, and navigate your vehicle. Don’t risk it – designate a sober driver, call a ride share or family member/friend, or wait until you are sober.
5. Share the road. People walking, biking, scooting, wheelchair rolling, motorcycling, and other drivers all have a right to use the road, and to get to their destination safely. Be on the lookout for other road users, be predictable, and stay alert for potential hazards and risks. 

Five things you can do as a passenger to make our roads safer:

1. Buckle up. Always wear a seatbelt on every trip, no matter how short. Make sure your driver and other passengers buckle up too.
2. Don’t distract the driver. Make sure your driver can focus on the road. Offer to navigate, DJ the music, or answer incoming calls/texts for the driver so they can keep their eyes on the road. 
3. Keep an eye out. Drivers have a huge responsibility; help them out by keeping an extra eye out, especially for people walking or biking that may be sometimes difficult to see.
4. Speak up if you feel unsafe. Kindly and calmy speak up if your driver is speeding, swerving, running lights, or breaking other rules of the road.
5. Have the courage to intervene. Don’t let your friend or family member drive if they are impaired with drugs, alcohol, marijuana, or just too sleepy or emotional. Offer to call them a sober ride or a ride share, or drive yourself if you are sober.

Car crashes are among the top causes of death in children under 14. Parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of serious injuries and deaths by up to 80% by securing children appropriately into properly installed car seats. 

Make sure you’re keeping children safe for the whole journey:

• Best Practices keeps children as safe as possible by extending each fit stage to the maximum allowable, as each stage offers less protection than the one before it. Find current, evidence-based, safest recommendations set by the American Academy of Pediatrics here
• Colorado Law states the bare minimum necessary for legal compliance, but is not necessarily as safe as best practices. Find information from CDOT on current Colorado laws here

Car Seats Colorado’s mission is to provide an environment in Colorado where every child is properly secured in an approved and appropriate restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle. Find information on free car seat checks, installation videos, recycling program, and more at Car Seats Colorado.

Are you interested in becoming a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) to support safety in your community? CPS technicians and instructors use their considerable knowledge and expertise at a variety of community-based activities, such as child safety seat checks, where parents and caregivers receive education and hands-on assistance. CPS technicians and instructors also keep up-to-date on the latest technical information about child passenger safety through seminars and other continuing education opportunities. Learn more at Safe Kids Worldwide.

In Colorado, approximately 23% of traffic fatalities are under 24 years old. And car crashes are the leading cause of death for young people, accounting for nearly 1/3 of all teen deaths in America each year.

Regardless of what mode that young adults choose to travel by – driving, walking, biking, rolling, or scooting – transportation safety education and engagement is critical as young adults navigate new transportation freedoms and develop important habits related to transportation safety.

Colorado Resources:

• Colorado Young Drivers Alliance is committed to keeping teens safe by providing valuable resources for parents, teens, schools and safety advocates.
• Teens in the Driver Seat is a peer-to-peer safety program for Americans youth. Learn more about traffic safety risks and how to take action.
• Impact Teen Drivers develops, promotes, and facilitates evidence-based education to stop the number one killer of teens—car crashes, particularly those caused by reckless and distracted driving.
• Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) has been the nation’s premier youth health and safety organization, dedicated to the safety and wellness of all students. Founded on the simple belief that young people, empowered to help one another, are the most powerful force in prevention, SADD equips students to lead change in their schools and communities.

Remember these 3 dos and don'ts to make sure you are riding safe: 

1. Scoot in the bike lane, not the sidewalk

• Bike lanes are for you! Ride only in bike lanes or on streets
• Sidewalks are for people walking and using wheelchairs
• Sidewalk riding is illegal

2. Ride with respect, don't ride double

• Wait your turn and obey all traffic lights and signs
• Always follow the flow of traffic
• One rider per scooter unless you are on a two-seated scooter

3. Park smart, don't block the way

• Park in a designated bike and scooter parking corral when available
• Keep ramps and sidewalks clear when parking
• Park your scooter upright, organized, and grouped together

Learn more about Denver’s Shared Bike and Scooter program.