Planning to hit the slopes this winter? Remember to plan for a safe and sober ride home. From Jan. 9 to 22, the Colorado Department of Transportation will support the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 71 local law enforcement agencies for The Heat Is On Winter Blitz DUI enforcement period. Drivers may see saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints and additional law enforcement officers on duty to remove impaired drivers from Colorado's roads.
Based on preliminary data, there were 203 fatalities on Colorado roads in 2024 that involved an impaired driver, accounting for 30 percent of all traffic deaths during the year. This is an 11 percent decrease from the 227 in 2023 and the lowest reported number of fatalities involving impairment since 2019. The counties with the highest number percent.
“Despite so many sober alternatives, there were more than 14,000 DUI arrests in our state last year,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Colorado law enforcement remains dedicated to removing impaired drivers from our roads. Don't ruin your wintertime fun with a DUI or life-altering crash. Ensure a sober ride home is always part of your plans.”
Last year's Winter Blitz enforcement period concluded with 451 reported DUI arrests across the state. Statistics show that impaired driving-related arrests, crashes and fatalities spike on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Motorists should be aware that driving under the influence of any impairing substance is illegal, not just alcohol. The majority of Colorado State Patrol troopers have specialized training in drug detection, known as ARIDE (Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement). All Colorado law enforcement agencies can administer alcohol and drug toxicology tests to drivers following a fatal DUI crash. Additionally, more than 120 law enforcement officers in Colorado are trained as Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) to identify impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs, either in addition to or instead of alcohol.
“Driving under the influence of alcohol and cannabis impairs reaction time and drastically increases the chance of a crash or serious injury. Don't risk a DUI arrest or crash - choose a sober ride,” said CDOT's Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “Prioritize safety this year. Colorado motorists, passengers and pedestrians are counting on you to make responsible choices behind the wheel.”
If you'll be in the driver's seat this new year, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. On Jan. 1, a new law went into effect in Colorado that prohibits drivers from using a mobile electronic device while driving, though hands-free accessories are permitted. CDOT urges all drivers to adopt safer driving practices and ensure you are prepared for the new law. Learn how to use your car's Bluetooth system, invest in a dashboard cellphone mount or car speakerphone system, and review the penalties for violating the law at codot.gov/handsfreeco.
Preliminary data shows that the recent New Year's Eve Weekend DUI enforcement period concluded with 164 arrests across 81 participating agencies. The agencies with the highest arrests were Longmont Police Department (12), Westminster Police Department (11), Fort Collins Police Department (10) and Larimer County Sheriff's Office (10). CSP reported 49 arrests. Following Winter Blitz, the next DUI enforcement period will be Super Bowl Weekend from Feb. 6 to 12.
For yearly impaired-driving crash and fatality data in Colorado, visit https://www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety/data-analysis/fatal-crash-data. For local law enforcement agency plans, visit https://www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety-reporting-portal.