Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) officials have released numbers showing a rise in fatal car accidents throughout the state during 2015. Data released by CDOT shows 488 fatal car accidents in 2014, and 545 in 2015. This would make 2015 the deadliest year for Colorado motorists since 2008. According to CDOT officials, one of the culprits is distracted driving.

Although distracted driving can include actions such as eating, grooming or messing with the radio, mobile phone use remains the most popular in Colorado. According to a 2013 CDOT study, mobile phone use was the most common form of distracted driving among both men and women in Colorado. In some cases, people are checking Facebook, email and social media instead of keeping their eyes on the road.

Colorado transportation officials have pledged to bring the high number of fatal car accidents down through educational programs and increased patrols. CDOT will also post signs displaying traffic death tallies for 2016 along major roads. Existing programs, such as Moving Towards Zero Deaths, will help coordinate actions to make driving safer in our state.

How Distracted Driving Accidents Affect Victims

Several national campaigns have been launched to bolster public awareness of distracted driving accidents. AT&T’s ‘It Can Wait’ campaign has used short videos to describe how distracted driving changes lives.

In many of AT&T’s videos, those responsible or affected by distracted driving share their stories. Some of these people have brain injuries or other complications. Others face a lifetime of guilt for the lives they took away. A single text message, response on Facebook, or glance at an email can change your life and the lives of others in a matter of seconds.