With pedestrian fatalities on the rise, Colorado sees a record number of drivers speeding through school and construction zones
Two Western Slope counties are in the top five for most citations in low-speed zones, despite having significantly lower populations
Colorado State Patrol photo / Special to the Daily.
Over the past few years, schools and construction zones have implemented traffic-calming devices and lowered speed limits to help make roads safer for pedestrians operating in these spaces.
Some of these traffic-calming measures include physical devices like speed bumps and mini roundabouts, while others are implemented as traffic control signs and striping.
Despite high-visibility warning devices alerting drivers of these safety measures, Colorado State Patrol troopers cited 1,237 people for speeding in construction or school zones in 2023. This is a , which reported 1,102 citations, according to a news release from the Colorado State Patrol.
Speeding is a common type of aggressive driving, and it can be just as dangerous on neighborhood streets as it is on a busy four-lane highway. According to Colorado State Patrol data, 48 of Colorado’s 64 counties recorded at least one instance of a driver receiving a citation in either a work zone or school zone.
“For Colorado State Patrol, we usually try to remain visible,” Trooper Sherri Mendez said. “Just so people can see us, that we’re there, and that we’re available to pull people over if they’re breaking the law.”
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Two of the five counties with the most speeding citations in low-speed zones in 2023 are on the Western Slope: Mesa and Garfield County.
The counties with the most speeding citations issued by Colorado State Troopers in low-speed zones are:
- El Paso County with 222 citations
- Larimer County with 131 citations
- Adams County with 127 citations
- Mesa County with 111 citations
- Garfield County with 88 citations
Mendez noted that some of the counties on the list, such as El Paso County, can attribute higher citation numbers to its bigger population of 740,567 (based on 2022 census data). The same can’t be said about some of the others.
Adams County has nearly four times the population of Mesa County, despite having a difference of 16 speeding citations.
“Adams County, it’s always been busy over there,” Mendez said. “It’s just one of those big cities. Everybody’s coming from everywhere. … That one I can explain.”
When ranked proportionally to their population, Garfield County ranks as having the highest concentration of citations, at one per 708 drivers. Mesa County comes in second at one citation per 1,429 drivers. Adams County, despite its busy activity, had the fewest citations per driver.
Under Colorado law, a violation of driving 1-24 mph over the posted speed limit is a Class A traffic infraction, while going over by 25 mph or more is a Class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. This classification from a Class 2 to a Class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense, explaining the higher fines.
In the state of Colorado, fines for speeding in a school zone are almost double the price compared with fines given in regular zones. For construction zones, the difference is even higher due to potential hazards and changes in road conditions.
The fine for drivers caught speeding at 1-4 mph over the posted limit in a school zone is $95.50, $36 more than in regular zones, according to Mendez. The fine for school zones goes up significantly from there, with the potential for a $325.50 fine for going 10-19 mph over the speed limit 鈥� nearly double compared with the $174.50 fine in regular zones.
Speeding by 20-24 mph in a school zone can get as high as $487.50. In a construction zone, the same violation can get you a $627.50 ticket.
Driving over the speed limit in these zones doesn’t increase the chances of license suspension, however, as points recorded against the driver in low-speed zones are equal to those recorded in regular zones.
“I don’t really know why people are speeding in school zones, you know?” Mendez said, noting that several are likely distracted drivers. “I just know it’s been a common occurrence (as well as) more pedestrian crashes.”
As the number of citations have gone up, so have pedestrian-involved accidents and deaths.
Colorado hit a record number for pedestrian fatalities in 2023 with 153 people killed, according to the Colorado State Patrol. This was an 18% increase over 2022, which with 111 people killed on Colorado roadways.
Colorado State Troopers-issued citations involving pedestrians in 2022 show the most common motorist violation was failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk (20 citations in the state), according to a Colorado State Patrol news release.
Drivers aren’t the only ones responsible for this increase in pedestrian accidents, however. The top citations involving pedestrians in 2022 show pedestrian at-fault citations had doubled or tripled from 2021.
Colorado State Patrol troopers urge pedestrians to follow proper safety precautions when walking on or near roads, including only crossing in designated areas, making eye contact with drivers before crossing, and avoiding distractions such as headphones and smartphones.
