As the holiday season approaches, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is kicking off its annual The Heat Is On Holiday Parties DUI enforcement period. Starting from Dec. 12 to Dec. 25, motorists in Colorado can expect an increased presence of law enforcement on the roads. According to CDOT, there will be saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints, and more officers on duty, all aimed at deterring and arresting impaired drivers.
The holiday boost in traffic and celebrations often correlates with a surge in impaired driving incidents. So far this year, out of all traffic fatalities on Colorado roads, 30% involved an impaired driver, culminating in 190 deaths, driving sober, and the use seat belts as essential measures for road safety, as highlighted by CDOT.
During the same period last year, Colorado law enforcement officers made a sobering tally of 1,350 DUI arrests. "Avoid a DUI this holiday season by making a plan for a sober ride," said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, as per CDOT, emphasizing the importance of responsibility and advocating for sobriety behind the wheel.
In light of the grim statistics, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) Colorado hosted the annual Giving and Gratitude event on Dec. 10 to shed light on the impact of impaired driving. "In 2023, MADD served 320 families across Colorado. The loss of a single life is enough to call for change," said Rebecca Green, Executive Director of MADD Colorado, as obtained by CDOT.
With the festivities underway, CDOT and MADD have provided several tips for party hosts to ensure guest safety, including the collection of car keys, offering sober transportation options, ceasing alcohol service well before parties end, and being persistent in preventing intoxicated guests from driving. CDOT's Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk also reminded that hosts could be held liable if an inebriated guest they served alcohol to is involved in a crash.
Finally, as part of the ongoing efforts to improve road safety, a new law prohibiting the use of mobile electronic devices while driving is set to be effective on Jan. 1, 2025, in Colorado. CDOT is urging drivers to practice hands-free driving in preparation for this upcoming change.
