Yesterday, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) hosted an event at Red Rocks Amphitheatre to promote its new campaign targeting speed-related crashes.
In 2023, 257 people were killed on Colorado roads in speed-related crashes, according to CDOT. To help motorists grasp the magnitude of this number, CDOT marked 257 seats at Red Rocks with signs and handwritten notes remembering the victims.
Speed was a leading factor in traffic deaths in Colorado in 2023, claiming more lives than both impaired driving (228) and unbuckled crashes (222), according to CDOT.
“By showcasing the 257 lives lost at a beloved state landmark, CDOT hopes to spark a meaningful conversation about traffic safety and encourage drivers to slow down,” said Sam Cole, CDOT communications manager, in a statement. “This initiative is part of CDOT's broader efforts to reduce speed-related incidents and make Colorado roads safer for everyone.”
CDOT also created a music playlist featuring mellow, slow-paced songs to encourage drivers to slow down. This initiative stems from a study by Memorial University of Newfoundland, which found that drivers who listened to fast-tempo songs were more likely to exceed speed limits.
Specially designed signs feature a QR code that links to the CDOT playlist. Soon, the signs will be distributed throughout Denver and the state’s top counties for speed-related fatalities.
According to CDOT’s 2023 Driver Behavior Report, more than 70% of Colorado drivers said they drove over the speed limit on main highways and local highways at least some of the time.
“Driving at unsafe speeds not only compromises a driver's ability to maintain a safe lane position, but it also drastically reduces the time available to react to potential hazards,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, in a statement. “This not only endangers the speeding driver but also puts everyone on the road at risk. The margin for error narrows significantly, turning a momentary mistake into a potentially life-altering event.”
Source: Colorado Department of Transportation, Yahoo.com
