With the echo of school bells and the onset of autumn, it's clear that pedestrians and drivers alike must increase their vigilance as daylight diminishes, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reports a striking statistic that last year, over 70% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in darkness.
The changing seasons bring shorter days, and with this shift comes the reminder from the Colorado State Patrol to watch out for those on foot, bike, or scooter however, despite the numerous safety measures in place, the prevalent issue remains an individual's oversight of traffic laws meant for their protection, a fact backed by Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. "Whether on foot, bike or scooter, drivers should anticipate pedestrians will be present alongside or crossing our community roadways, And it is equally important that pedestrians understand they are not exempt from following traffic laws," said Col. Packard, per Colorado State Patrol, this push for adherence to safety norms is crucial, he noted, because even with the right of way, pedestrians must abide by traffic signals.
Despite these efforts, the reality of the situation remains harsh, pedestrian crashes are most frequent from Thursday to Saturday, with peak incidence occurring between the hours of 3 and 8 p.m., as investigated by the Colorado State Patrol in 2023. "In Colorado, pedestrians have the right of way at intersections and crosswalks, but they still have to follow traffic signals," Col. Packard explained, as obtained by Colorado State Patrol, reinforcing that drivers have to yield and stop to ensure pedestrian safety.
