The Colorado State Patrol has issued a stark warning to drivers after witnessing a significant uptick in speeding within regulated low-speed zones such as school and construction areas. According to the Colorado State Patrol, a total of 1,237 people were cited for such violations last year, marking a troubling 12% increase from 2022. The Colorado State Patrol's message is clear: "Slow Down. Too many Colorado drivers are failing roadside workers and kids."

Citing the imperativeness to "follow the law because people’s lives literally depend on you," the Patrol's chief, Col. Matthew C. Packard said, as per Colorado State Patrol, motorists to exercise constant vigilance and assume the presence of people in these designated zones at all times. Despite the measures in place, including traffic calming devices and prominent warning signals, the temptation to improperly accelerate does not seem to have waned. The data points to an across-the-board disregard for speed regulations, with 48 of Colorado's 64 counties recording at least one instance of a speeding citation in these sensitive areas.

Topping the list of counties where these infractions were most prevalent were El Paso with 222 citations, Larimer at 131, Adams with 127, Mesa at 111, and Garfield with 88. These statistics, as obtained by the Colorado State Patrol, serve as a somber reminder of the persistent risks faced by pedestrians, particularly the most vulnerable among us, children, and roadside workers.