Morning commutes can be more than just a drag; they can be dangerous, especially between the hours of 7 and 9 a.m., when Colorado State troopers report the highest volume of speed-related crashes. A recent study, diving into six years of data from 2020 to 2025, points to this early window as the prime time for speeding-caused crashes, with the hour following not far behind.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, Col. Matthew C. Packard connects the incidents to various morning stressors. "Often these drivers are rushing to work, many of them feeling thrown off schedule by kids, getting themselves ready, traffic volume or weather," he explained. The factors contributing to these incidents, however, are not limited to the hastened pace of morning routines.
A significant portion of these incidents also list distraction as a secondary cause, with drivers eating breakfast, mentally juggling the day’s tasks, or being distracted in other ways while also speeding. In efforts to curb the trend, the Colorado State Patrol has launched a "Stop Speeding" campaign aimed at reducing these preventable accidents by enforcing stricter consequences for speeding and lane violations.
Public safety officials recommend several strategies to stay safe during the morning commute. Planning, giving yourself an additional 10-15 minutes to reach your destination without speeding, is suggested by the Colorado State Patrol. Removing distractions by setting up your navigation and music before hitting the road, and familiarizing oneself with traffic laws and the daily route can also help keep the streets safer for everyone.
