Distracted Driving – a Threat to All

The Problem

In 2020, 10,166 crashes involved a Colorado distracted driver, resulting in 1,476 injuries and 68 deaths. Even with these life-threatening consequences, more than 90% of Colorado drivers self-report driving distracted.

Distracted driving is the act of driving while engaged in anything that takes your focus away from the road, including texting, looking after children or pets, talking on the phone or to a passenger, watching videos, eating, or reading. These hazards are widely preventable when drivers pledge to evaluate their own habits and commit to leaving distractions behind. Taking your eyes off of the road for even a few seconds can be hazardous, so do yourself and your community a favor by prioritizing safe, alert driving above all else.

Source: Colorado Department of Transportation

https://www.codot.gov/safety/distracteddriving

What Cyclists Can Do?

1. Use a mirror. You should physically look back over your shoulder before moving left, but having a mirror still helps you monitor traffic without constantly having to look behind you.
2. Use a high visibility blinking rear light
3. Wear bright clothing, a reflective vest or a safety triangle.
4. Choose wide streets whose outside lane is so wide that it can easily fit a car and a bike side by side.
5. Choose slow streets. The slower a car is going, the more time the driver has to see you.
6. Use a device such as the Garmin Varia with a sensor mounted on a seat post to detect cars by radar. These devices show cars represented by dots on a bike computer screen and alarms if a car is about to hit you. The Varia can also have lights and video cameras. Sometimes the only way a hit and run driver can be brought to justice is if there is video footage to identify the vehicle and serve as evidence.