Nearly 60% of pedestrian deaths in Colorado occurred during the fall and winter months over the past five years

October was National Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado State Patrol continue to urge pedestrians and drivers alike to practice increased caution and share the road as the days get shorter.

The month of September has one of the year’s fastest declines in daylight, with Denver losing roughly 70 minutes over the course of the month. During the fall and winter months, more morning and evening travel takes place in lower-light conditions. Over the past five years, nearly 60% of all pedestrian fatalities in Colorado occurred between September and February.

To demonstrate this, CDOT, CSP and safety advocates held a sunset press conference to highlight how drivers must heighten their awareness as daylight quickly fades. Between just 6:50 p.m. and 7:05 p.m., CDOT Traffic Safety Communications Manager Tamara Rollison’s visibility noticeably decreased.

“Pedestrian fatalities are down 24% compared with this time last year. While this is promising, troopers want to remind pedestrians and drivers that even one fatality is too many,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Wearing bright clothing and using crosswalks as a pedestrian or using your headlights and obeying the speed limit as a driver are simple ways to increase safety as daylight saving time comes to an end.”

Read more about how CDOT and its partners are bringing awareness to pedestrian safety.