New Research Pushes States on Distracted Driving
New research suggests state laws that prohibit drivers from holding a cell phone under any circumstance appear to be effective in reducing rear-end crashes.
GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Colorado. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.
Helmets required for all riders and passengers under 18. Universal helmet law repealed 1977.
10 years
80 and older: electronic renewal requires passage of vision exam within the prior 6 months
Permissible inference law >0 for THC
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
Permissible inference for THC (5 ng)
75
75
65
65
65
65
0.15
3 months
Yes
Mandatory for high BAC (0.15 and above) and repeat convictions, highly incentivized for first convictions
Yes
No
8-15 yrs
Under 1 yr and under 20 lbs in rear-facing seat in rear seat
1-3 yrs and 20-40 lbs in rear or forward-facing child safety seat
4-8 yrs in forward-facing child safety seat or booster
17 years
15 with driver's ed 15 / 6 with driver awareness program 16 without driver's ed. or program
12
50 (10)
16
Midnight - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 6 months: no passengers Second 6 months: no more than one passenger (secondary enforcement)
Secondary
16 and over (primary law for under 18)
Front
No
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Statewide
Permitted by state law and city ordinance
School zones, residential neighborhoods, construction zones (only when construction is occurring), and streets that border a municipal park; police officer or government employee must be present at time of violation
Permitted by state law
New research suggests state laws that prohibit drivers from holding a cell phone under any circumstance appear to be effective in reducing rear-end crashes.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) was one of five State Highway Safety Offices to receive a grant from GHSA and ride-hailing company Uber to prevent impaired driving during the 2021 holiday season.
More than half of Colorado’s teen driving fatalities between 2015 and 2019 were related to speed, according to a report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association and Ford Motor Company Fund.
Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, New Mexico and Texas received a total of $95,000 in grant funds and Uber ride credits to support initiatives that help prevent impaired driving this holiday season.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), in partnership with Uber, has awarded the CO, CT, MD, NM and TX State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) a total of $95,000 in grant funds and Uber ride credits to support initiatives to help prevent impaired driving this holiday season.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), in partnership with Uber, has awarded the CO, CT, MD, NM and TX State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) a total of $95,000 in grant funds and Uber ride credits to support initiatives to help prevent impaired driving this holiday season.
The Colorado Department of Transportation was one of five State Highway Safety Offices to receive a grant from GHSA and ride-hailing company Lyft to prevent impaired driving during the 2020 holiday season.
The nation’s top highway safety leaders will convene at the Sheraton Denver Downtown for the Governors Highway Safety Association’s (GHSA) Annual Meeting, Moving Mountains: Forging a New Traffic Safety Landscape, September 11-15.
The nation’s top highway safety leaders will convene at the Sheraton Denver Downtown for the Governors Highway Safety Association’s (GHSA) Annual Meeting, Moving Mountains: Forging a New Traffic Safety Landscape, September 11-15.