Deaths from Car Accidents of 2012's First Quarter Hit a Four Year High
The Colorado Department of Transportation has released a preliminary report for the first quarter of 2012 regarding highway and traffic fatality statistics, and for the first time in four years the results are disconcerting.
127 traffic fatalities were recorded between Jan. 1 and Apr. 30 of 2012, up from 103 for the same period of last year. If the progression continues throughout the rest of 2012, it will mark a reversal of a trend that has seen traffic deaths slowly declining since 2008.
Law enforcement agencies, in conjunction with state and local safety officials, have devised and enacted a couple of programs to help counteract the trend.
DUI related crashes accounted for 40% of the fatalities in 2011, while a lack of proper seat belt usage was associated with 60% of traffic deaths. These two areas have become the focus of efforts from police agencies and CDOT.
As a result, Colorado's "100 Days of Heat," which runs simultaneously with the national "Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over" initiative, has specifically targeted intoxicated drivers. According to CDOT, the program has resulted in 1,301 DUI arrests across Colorado since the project's introduction on Memorial Day weekend.
“These people are not just having one drink, they are getting very drunk and then getting behind the wheel,” said Col. James Wolfinbarger, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “That is why it is critical for everyone to plan ahead before getting to the point of intoxication when decision making is extremely poor. Figure out a plan before you begin drinking, or expect to face the consequences.”
Additionally, the national "Click it or Ticket" campaign produced an astounding 8,777 seat belt citations in Colorado. Police & Sheriff's departments across the state have been specifically focusing on seat belt enforcement as a result of the high incidence of traffic deaths related to unrestrained drivers and passengers.
CDOT's Office of Transportation Safety and Public Relations has also started a new campaign to curb drugged driving. 16% of fatalities on Colorado roads between 2006 and 2010 were connected with a driver who tested positive for drugs. Accordingly, their new program will "educate motorists about the dangers of driving under the influence of medications, medical marijuana, and illegal drugs."
If you are injured by a suspected intoxicated driver, or hurt in any car accident in the Denver area, please call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger today at (303)-279-0221 for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!
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