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DENVER (KDVR) — Driving near a big rig on a highway can be a little intimidating for passenger vehicle drivers on a good day, but the Colorado State Patrol says a distracted driver behind the wheel of a semitrailer is more than intimidating: It's putting the rest of the road at risk.
According to the agency, troopers issued 822 citations to commercial vehicle drivers in 2023 for improper, reckless or careless driving — which is 23% more than in 2022. Commercial vehicles are defined under Colorado Revised Statutes as 16,001-pound vehicles or vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers.
"While any vehicle can cause death, the consequences of a crash are amplified when a commercial motor vehicle is involved due to its increased weight, load dynamics and required stopping distances," said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, in a release. "Troopers are aware of these greater risks, and we believe professional drivers are as well."
In Colorado, troopers are issuing the most distracted driving citations to CMV drivers on Interstate 25 or Interstate 70. The top month for these citations was January, followed by December. Winter conditions are particularly dangerous due to changes to road surfaces.
"Those few seconds looking at your phone or removing a hand from the wheel to perform another task may seem innocent at first, but these actions can have a serious impact on other motorists or pedestrians around you," said Packard. "This agency alone investigated 566 injury and fatal crashes caused by distracted drivers last year. Unintended crashes can and do happen, and we need our commercial drivers to stay focused to help us reduce hazards on Colorado roadways."
The State Patrol also pointed to data from the Centers for Disease Control, stating that on average every day in the U.S., nine people die and over 1,000 people are injured in crashes caused by distracted drivers.
The Colorado State Patrol said the third most common location it was issuing distracted driving citations "could not be specifically identified" because rural roads and neighborhood streets had higher rates than any highways in Colorado.
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