CDOT reminds motorcyclists to ride sober to Sturgis

CDOT recuerda a los motociclistas manejar sobrios a Sturgis en español

CDOT Traffic Safety Communications Manager Sam Cole and CSP Sgt. Ivan Alvarado are available for media interviews on July 30. Contact Sam Cole ([email protected]) for information.

Statewide — As half a million motorcyclists prepare to attend the annual Sturgis Rally in South Dakota on Aug. 1, many expected to travel through Colorado. That is why CDOT is urging riders to protect themselves by staying alert, riding sober and wearing a helmet. From July 31 to Aug. 12, CDOT will support Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 56 local law enforcement agencies for The Heat Is On Sturgis Rally DUI enforcement period. Riders and drivers may see saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints and additional law enforcement officers on duty during this 13-day period.

Although motorcycles represent less than 3% of vehicles on the road, they accounted for 24% of all traffic fatalities in Colorado last year, totaling 165 deaths. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that motorcyclists are 24 times more likely to die in a crash than passenger vehicle occupants. Motorcyclists are encouraged to rally responsibly during their ride to and from Sturgis. Drivers of vehicles should watch for motorcycle riders by carefully checking blind spots and sharing the road.

“Increased highway traffic, a concerning lack of helmet use and the risk of impaired riding set the stage for potentially dangerous travel both to and from Sturgis Rally,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Whether you’re behind handlebars or a steering wheel, never drive impaired. It’s the best way to ensure the safety of yourself and others on our roadways.”

Last year, motorcyclists were involved in 2,345 crashes on Colorado roads, with 44% (1,028) occurring during the summer. Of the 165 motorcyclists who died, 44% (73) were not wearing a helmet. In an effort to reduce motorcycle crashes and fatalities, CDOT is sharing the following safety reminders:

• Helmets Save Lives: Helmets are the best defense against serious injury or death, helping protect riders from the unpredictable actions of other drivers.
• Never Ride Impaired: If you plan to drink, put the keys away and find a sober ride.
• Lane Filtering Protects Riders: Colorado’s lane filtering law allows motorcyclists to navigate toward the front of the line in stopped traffic to avoid cars hitting them. Collisions from behind can cause serious injury or kill motorcycle riders. Lane splitting, in which a motorcyclist passes moving vehicles, remains illegal in Colorado.

"Drunk driving deaths are 100% preventable. Yet, tragically, 36 motorcyclists lost their lives on Colorado roads in impaired driving-related crashes last year,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “Your safety is important — sober riding saves lives."

CDOT is reminding all motorists that driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or other drugs is dangerous and illegal. While most Coloradans never drive or ride impaired, there were 359 DUI arrests during last year’s Sturgis Rally enforcement period and seven impaired-related motorcyclist deaths last August.

CDOT recently launched a campaign to educate the public on the consequences of refusing a DUI blood or breath test. Under Colorado’s Expressed Consent Law, by driving a vehicle in the state, you automatically consent to a toxicology test following a DUI arrest. Colorado has seen an increase in drivers who refuse a toxicology test in recent years. Refusing a test is illegal and it hinders efforts to keep Colorado roads safe from impaired drivers. Learn more about the law and consequences for refusing to test at codot.gov/choosetotest.

DUI Checkpoint B-Roll

CDOT is making new DUI checkpoint footage available free for media use, offering a compelling glimpse of what happens during a checkpoint. The footage captures real-life interactions between law enforcement officers and drivers** at DUI checkpoints, highlighting the consequences of impaired driving. Contact [email protected] to access the footage. **The people portrayed in the videos signed participation waivers to be included in filming.

About The Heat Is On

The CDOT Highway Safety Office provides funding to Colorado law enforcement for impaired driving enforcement, education and awareness campaigns. The Heat Is On campaign runs throughout the year, with 15 specific high-visibility impaired driving enforcement periods centered on national holidays and large public events. Enforcement periods can include sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and additional law enforcement on duty dedicated to impaired driving enforcement. Find more details about the campaign, including impaired driving enforcement plans, arrest totals and safety tips at HeatIsOnColorado.com. More information about DUI laws in Colorado can be found at NoDUIColorado.org. Learn more about CDOT’s dedication to keeping Colorado roads safe, including impaired driving enforcement objectives, arrest data and safety information, at codot.gov/safety

Crash Not Accident

Note to reporters: Crashes are no accident — they are preventable. We would appreciate you saying 'crash' instead of 'accident' when reporting.