(COLORADO) — On Tuesday, Jan. 28 the Colorado Department of Transportation released preliminary data that showed a decrease in traffic fatalities on Colorado roads but CDOT said more can be done.

According to data, there was a 5% decrease in traffic fatalities in 2024 compared to 2023. The breakdown of the fatalities on roads is as follows:

All traffic deaths – 684 (decrease of 5% from 2023)

Passenger vehicle deaths – 371 (decrease of 10% from 2023)  

Motorcycle deaths – 162 (increase of 23% over 2023)

Impaired driving deaths – 210 (decrease of 7% from 2023) 

Unbuckled seat belt deaths – 183 (decrease of 15% from 2023)

Pedestrian deaths – 120 (decrease of 12% from 2023)  

Bicycle deaths – 14 (decrease of 30% from 2023)

Construction zone deaths – 31 (increase of 94% over 2023)

The counties with the highest fatalities were:

Adams – 84 (increase of 38% over 2023)

El Paso – 78 (no increase or decrease — consistent with 2023 fatalities)

Weld – 67 (increase of 20% over 2023)

Denver – 61 (decrease of 21% from 2023)

Arapahoe – 55 (decrease of 19% from 2023)

Jefferson – 54 (increase of 13% over 2023)

Larimer – 35 (decrease of 19% from 2023)

The cities with the highest fatalities:

Denver – 61 (decrease of 21% from 2023)

Colorado Springs – 47 (decrease of 2% from 2023)

Aurora – 45 (decrease of 29% from 2023)

Pueblo – 21 (decrease of 9% from 2023)

Lakewood – 21 (increase of 5% over 2023)

Thornton – 18 (increase of 157% over 2023)

Fort Collins – 14 (increase of 8% over 2023)

Greeley – 14 (increase of 27% over 2023)

While the data is promising, CDOT said one life lost is too many and reaffirms its commitment to achieving zero deaths and serious injuries on roads.

To address traffic safety in construction zones, CDOT said it will launch a Speed Safety Camera Program to reduce crashes involving speeding. The Speed Safety Cameras are estimated to reduce fatalities and injuries by 20 to 37%.

“While it’s promising to see a reduction in fatalities on our roadways these last two years, we continue to see careless and reckless driving behaviors on our roadways. It takes all of us to make Colorado a safe place for motorists and pedestrians to travel,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

CDOT said despite the decrease there was an increase in motorcyclists and construction zone deaths in 2024.

CDOT and Colorado State Patrol have set a goal of reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries by 22.5% by 2027. CDOT said strategies to meet this goal include Safe Roads, Safe People, Safe Driving, Safety Culture, and Post Crash Care along with encouraging helmet use for motorcyclists.

In 2024 CDOT launched a new awareness campaign called Shift into Safe, which raises awareness about seat belt safety, distracted driving, child passenger safety, and more. New laws that went into effect in 2025 including the Hands-Free Law and an update to the child restraint system law are aimed at reducing crashes and injuries.

“Having the ability to safely walk, bike, or drive in their communities and throughout the state impacts Coloradans’ health, education, and economic well-being,” said Ned Calonge, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment chief medical officer. “Safe roads and highways allow Coloradans to travel to work, meet with friends, walk to parks, get their kids to school, or simply go to the store for groceries.”