SPEED Program

Why Speed Matters

To progress Denver’s Vision Zero goals, Denver is implementing several targeted safety enhancements through 2026 to reduce vehicle speeds and increase safety across Denver communities. Reducing vehicle speeds is critical to saving lives by mitigating the frequency and severity of fatal crashes and serious bodily injury (SBI).

Speed is a leading factor in whether a crash results in a fatality or serious injury. Reducing speed limits by just 10 MPH can lower the chance of a fatal outcome by up to 40%. 

DOTI's Safe System Approach to Vision Zero focuses on anticipating human errors and minimizing impact forces to make crashes less severe and save lives. Implementing the Safe System Approach is a shared responsibility. 

Why does Speed have such a big impact on fatality rates? 

1. Visibility

Speed impacts your visibility. Driving at slower speeds gives you more time to observe your surroundings and anticipate potential hazards. 

2. Reaction + Stopping Time 

Speed impacts the time it takes you to react and stop - which also influences the distance it takes. The faster you travel, the less time you have to react, and the longer it takes to stop your vehicle. Slower speeds give you a better chance to see, react, and stop or slow down before a potential impact occurs. This is especially important in bad weather, low visibility, or when there are distractions, as it takes even longer to react and stop. 

3. Vehicle Size and Weight

More than 80% of car sales in the US are trucks and SUVs. These larger, heavier, and taller vehicles have bigger blind spots, longer braking distances, and generate more force in a crash. Taller vehicles also change where pedestrians or other vulnerable road users are impacted, leading to more deadly crashes. 

4. Vulnerable Road Users

Road users outside of motor vehicles - people walking, biking, rolling, scooting, and riding motorcycles - are at a higher risk of being severely injured or killed in a crash, especially when larger vehicles and higher speeds are involved. People walking, biking, and rolling are far overrepresented in fatal and serious crashes. While these road users make up less than 10% of mode share, they account for over half of traffic deaths. 

Implementing the SPEED Program

Denver is taking action to increase safety by reducing speeds in our city. Through SPEED program safety improvements, DOTI aims progress its Vision Zero goal to reduce traffic fatalities by 50% on Federal Boulevard, Alameda Avenue, and Colorado Boulevard. These roadways are part of the city’s High Injury Network (HIN), the 5% of the Denver streets where 56% of all traffic fatalities are concentrated. Learn more at denvergov.org/visionzero

SPEED Program Safety Components

The actions and safety enhancements that make up DOTI’s new SPEED program include:

1. Saturating corridors with speed limit signs and speed feedback signs, providing visual reminders of posted limits; Strengthen marketing program to encourage drivers to slow down

• Installed 23 electronic speed feedback signs on Alameda Ave (9) and on Federal Blvd (14). Colorado Blvd in progress.
• Installed approximately one speed limit sign every ¼ mile along Alameda Ave and Federal Blvd. Colorado Blvd in progress.
• Facilitated grass roots focus groups to hear directly from the communities adjacent to SPEED program corridors.
• Launched “For the Love of Safety” campaign on billboards and online to spread awareness of the danger of speeding and its relationship to traffic fatalities.

• Distribute SPEED program flyer in the “Wastewise” newsletter sent to 180,000 households (Summer 2025)

2. Programming traffic signals to slow vehicles down to the posted limits (tip: if you go the speed limit, you get more green lights!)

• Completed signal timing on Federal Blvd & Alameda Ave.
• Signal timing on Colorado Blvd in progress.

3. Engineering signal timing to prevent excessive speeding at night by reducing the amount of time that signals rest in green, discouraging speeding when there are fewer cars on the road. (note: 57% of fatal crashes in 2024 happened at night)

• Completed late night signal timing on Federal Blvd & Alameda Ave.
• Late night signal timing on Colorado Blvd in progress.

4. Expanding use of signal timing that gives pedestrians a head start crossing the street before the light turns green

• Implemented leading pedestrian signal timing on Federal Blvd & Alameda Ave. Colorado Blvd in progress.

5. Deploying speed enforcement on both corridors including piloting automated speed enforcement cameras

• Completed equity analysis of speed safety cameras and developed an equity mitigation plan informing program implementation to reduce risks of unintended outcomes.

DOTI Safety First Policy(PDF, 250KB)

Evaluating the SPEED Program

Initial data from 2025 safety enhancements along Federal Blvd and Alameda Ave demonstrates positive progress towards achieving DOTI’s Vision Zero goals, reporting an overall reduction in crashes, including a 20% reduction in total crashes on Alameda Avenue, and a 10% reduction in total crashes and a 28% reduction in late night crashes on Federal Boulevard. Additional safety measures will made on both corridors and DOTI will expand its SPEED program to Colorado Boulevard in 2026. Speed safety cameras will compound the outcomes of other implemented speed reduction tools, supporting and strengthening the goals of transportation safety, equity, and mobility for all users.  

- 12/23/25 Press Release: DOTI Reports Expansion of SPEED Pilot Program to Reduce Crashes

Results

DOTI has seen a reduction in crashes overall on both corridors in 2025 as compared to 2023.

Currently, Denver has experienced a reduction in serious bodily injuries citywide with 345 year to date compared to total 410 in 2024. Fatal crashes have increased with 90 lives lost year to date. Areas of increase have been in scooter fatalities and in pedestrians on the interstate.

“While we are seeing some progress with the reduction of overall crashes and serious bodily injury crashes, we know we need continued attention to how we reduce fatalities on these corridors,” notes Amy Ford, Executive Director of DOTI. “After this weekend, there have now been seven fatalities this year on Federal Boulevard. As we track toward our 50% reduction goal by the end of 2026, we are continuing to add new measures including automated speed cameras to help eliminate the primary cause of these tragic occurrences.”

Upcoming: Speed Safety Cameras (SSC) 

Speed Safety Cameras are an automated enforcement that will issue tickets to drivers who are traveling 10 MPH or over the speed limit. The camera will automatically track speeds and take a photo of the vehicle’s license plate. A ticket is then mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner. Automated speed enforcement is an important tool that changes driver behavior to improve safety using modern and reliable technology.

Resources:

• Fair Warnings: Recommendations to Promote Equity in Speed Safety Camera Programs | Vision Zero Network
• Colorado Senate Bill 2023-200 Concerning the Utilization of Automated Vehicle Identification Systems for Increased Traffic Law Enforcement by Certain Jurisdictions

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources for Drivers

Safe driving protects you and the community.  Here are some tips for how to be a safe driver:

• Safe Driving Tips from the Colorado Department of Transportation
• Safe Driving Tips from the Center for Disease Control
• How to drive safely in winter conditions, from the National Highway Safety Administration

Distracted driving is a dangerous and growing concern for all communities. Learn more and commit to safer and distraction-free driving at https://www.codot.gov/safety/distracteddriving.