As the Colorado summer heats up and more motorcycles carve through its scenic byways, a stern reminder from the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) reiterates the dangers of impaired riding. Last year, the state witnessed 162 motorcycle fatalities, a grim tally that the CSP is determined to lower. Troopers had their hands full, responding to 669 crashes involving motorcycles in varying degrees of severity, but with a common thread: the need for adherence to the rules of the road and the dangers of riding while impaired. An unsettling surge in impaired rider at-fault crashes, a 52% increase over the previous year, has sounded alarms within the department and prompted calls for change.
Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, is clear on the message, saying “Riding a motorcycle can be exhilarating but comes with inherent risks due to limited physical protection,” as per Colorado State Patrol, riders compound these dangers exponentially when they choose to consume alcohol or drugs before getting behind the handlebars, the result is not just risky, it's recklessly cutting down on vital coordination, reaction times, and focus, imperative for safe riding.
In stark terms, according to Colorado State Patrol, impairment as a causal factor in at-fault crashes involving motorcyclists rose from sixth to fourth place in just a year. This escalation has placed a brighter spotlight on the all-too-common and often devastating consequences of drunk riding, which carries risks including impaired tracking of moving objects, delayed emergency responses, and even the inability to simply maintain a straight line or brake effectively.
