Colorado State Patrol troopers say they are increasingly rolling up on a very 21st-century kind of crash: drivers who turned on automated-driving features, then allegedly drove impaired and checked out. The agency is warning that no matter how smart the car is, automation does not erase legal responsibility for what happens on the road.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Revenue records show 11 crashes involving automated-vehicle modes with suspected impairment from 2021 through 2024, plus partial months of 2025. The agency says “suspected impairment” covers drivers who refused testing, cases where marijuana impairment was suspected, and crashes that led to a blood or breath test during DUI investigations. CSP stresses that even when an automated system is engaged, the human in the driver’s seat is still legally on the hook for safe operation.
Colorado State Trooper Sherri Mendez told CBS Colorado, “You could lose control of your vehicle,” and warned that simply failing to maintain control can trigger DUI suspicion. CBS Colorado reported that troopers say drivers who crash while impaired, even with an automated system active, can face criminal charges and a serious financial hit, with costs that can climb to about $13,000 in fines and court fees, plus license revocation and vehicle impoundment.
What troopers found
In its public advisory, Colorado State Patrol notes that the DOR data are not exhaustive, but they do suggest a pattern. Automated features are now common, and when a vehicle disengages or runs into conditions it cannot handle, an impaired driver is less able to step in quickly and safely. Troopers are using that tally of 11 crashes to hammer home a simple point: automation is a tool, not a stand-in for a sober, engaged driver. They are urging motorists to learn what their car can and cannot do before relying on its high-tech helpers.
How Colorado law treats 'driving'
Colorado law defines “driving” broadly, and courts have held that “actual physical control” is enough to meet the standard. In practice, that means someone sitting in the driver’s seat with automation engaged can still be charged with DUI. See C.R.S. § 42-4-1301 for the statute’s language and context, as summarized by Justia.
Federal reporting and safety oversight
Federal regulators also track crashes that involve advanced driver-assist and automated systems and have ordered manufacturers to report serious incidents. A Congressional Research Service report describes how NHTSA’s standing general order, along with other tools, is meant to keep federal officials informed as automation becomes more common on public roads.
Troopers' advice
Troopers are telling drivers to do their homework on any automated features their vehicle has, stay fully attentive, and be ready to grab the wheel at any moment. Counting on an automated system while impaired is dangerous, they say, and the law will still treat the human occupant as the driver.
As automated features become routine on Colorado roads, CSP’s bottom line stays pretty old-school: the safest setup is a sober, alert driver who understands the car they are in. If you see risky behavior on the road, troopers urge you to report it to local law enforcement so it can be investigated before someone gets hurt.
