With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office is ramping up efforts to enforce traffic laws and ensure public safety on what is notoriously one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The initiative, termed "Blackout Wednesday," began on November 26 and is set to continue through November 30, focusing on daytime and evening traffic enforcement across multiple phases. El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal emphasized his team's ongoing mission to mitigate risky driving behaviors. "Reckless, aggressive, or impaired driving is never a victimless act, it leads directly to preventable collisions, serious injuries, and deaths," Roybal stated, as per the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
Working in collaboration are various local law enforcement agencies, including the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Springs Police Department, among others, who have joined forces in this preventive drive. The campaign has two key components: targeting reckless and distracted drivers during the day, and focusing on impaired drivers as the evening sets in. Making vast strides throughout 2025, these agencies have tackled educational programs and enforcement initiatives to better safeguard the Pikes Peak region from traffic mishaps.
The Colorado Department of Transportation's latest figures reveal a sobering landscape of traffic safety, with 689 traffic fatalities recorded statewide in 2024, and 287 of those involving an impaired driver. These statistics back the relentless efforts for proactive enforcement. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has responded to these challenges by issuing a staggering 8,736 citations and apprehending 175 drivers under the influence, thereby underscoring the imperative to keep roads safe for the community.
Traffic Unit Sergeant Jason Haag added urgency to the holiday plea for responsible driving. "The day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year. People head to the grocery store, airports, or local bars to meet friends and family. We’re urging everyone—slow down, pay attention, wear your seatbelt, and have a plan to get home safely. There is nothing worth risking your life or the lives of others," Haag conveyed, as obtained by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
