Colorado joins national movement to curb the distracted driving “epidemic”

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Colorado is joining the National Safety Council in recognizing April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. State officials have referred to distracted driving in Colorado as an epidemic, according to the Denver Post. Between 2012 and 2015, more than 57,000 crashes could be attributed to distracted driving. In 2016, an average of 40 distracted driving crashes occurred each day across the state.

A survey by CDOT found that 22 percent of drivers had read text messages, emails or social media posts while driving in the week before they took the survey. The agency would like to remind drivers that Colorado law prohibits all drivers from texting and driving, while minors are prohibited from all forms of cell phone use behind the wheel.

CDOT will be sharing social media posts on the consequences of distracted driving throughout April and encourages members of the public to share their own experiences.

Read more from the Greeley Tribune and the Denver Post.