The Colorado State Patrol has issued a warning, urging pedestrians to steer clear of highways and rural roadways that are not built for foot traffic. The advisory, aimed at reducing the risk of pedestrian-involved accidents, reminds individuals that highways lack the safety provisions found on more pedestrian-friendly streets, such as sidewalks or bike lanes. As cited by Colorado State Patrol, over the last five years, there have been 292 crashes involving pedestrians on prohibited roadways, with more than half resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
Notably, the year 2024 has seen an alarming climb in such incidents, with a 72% increase from January to September compared to the same timeframe in 2023. Last year's data demonstrated 25 pedestrian-involved crashes, only to see an increase to 43 in the same period this year, as reported by the Colorado State Patrol. Running across highways or walking along them can have severe consequences due to high-speed vehicles and the unexpected presence of pedestrians, which makes it hard for drivers to react promptly.
"Crossing a highway on foot or walking alongside a road that is not designed for pedestrians is extremely dangerous," Colorado State Patrol Chief Col. Matthew C. Packard said, as per Colorado State Patrol. He further described the grim outcomes often resulting from such scenarios, "Pedestrians are less likely to survive these collisions. Drivers aren’t expecting to see people on these types of roads, and highway speeds reduce reaction time and require longer stopping distances, leading to devastating collisions if a pedestrian enters a lane or a vehicle fails to maintain proper lane position."
Historical data from 2019-2023 pinpoints Adams, Pueblo, Douglas, Jefferson, and Boulder counties as harboring the highest numbers of these unfortunate incidents. Coinciding with unsafe situations seen by pedestrians, the Colorado State Patrol suggests, if witness to such an event, to safely pull off the highway and park before calling 9-1-1. The top roadways for fatal and injury crashes by a pedestrian being in a roadway where not permitted ranked, from highest to lowest, were I-25, H287, H50, I-70, and H6, a regrettable testament to risks looming on these high-speed routes.
For those whose vehicles break down on a highway, the State Patrol advises pulling off the road as far as possible, activating hazard lights, and calling for help. With the vehicle secured, and only if one can ensure their safety, they recommend positioning oneself behind a guardrail or upon an embankment, always on the side opposite of traffic. And in the gravest of circumstances, should one need to walk without the ability to place a call for help, the instruction is to proceed to the nearest exit or a safer locale, facing oncoming traffic at the road's edge as closely as safety permits.
