Five Colorado Cities Rank High in Fatal Drunk Driving Crashes, Pueblo Third Worst in U.S. Per Capita

A recent analysis by Philadelphia-based law firm Van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim, using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s FIRST tool, has highlighted a grim reality in Colorado, where five cities rank alarmingly high in terms of fatal drunk driving accidents, according to

Colorado State Patrol

. With statistics compiled from 2018 to 2022, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Lakewood, Thornton, and Denver are among the top 50 U.S. cities for drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 residents.

Leading the somber statistics is Pueblo, positioned as the third highest in the nation for fatal drunk driving crashes per capita; Colorado Springs, Aurora, Lakewood, Thornton, and Denver fill spots 25, 28, 31, 46, and 49 respectively, and the findings have served as a wake-up call for Colorado, which appears disproportionately represented on this tragic list. Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, lamented in his remarks on the persistently high rates of impaired driving despite common knowledge of its dangers, “Very few people would disagree that driving impaired is an extremely reckless decision, yet our Colorado communities continue to see individuals risking their lives and others at exceptionally high rates.” Packard continues to stress the grievous disconnect, as per

Colorado State Patrol

.

In Colorado, a DUI conviction carries with it mandated attendance at a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Impact Panel, this initiative is designed to force DUI offenders to face the personal narratives of those affected by impaired driving. “People who choose to drive under the influence need to be reconnected with their ability to feel empathy and loss with others,” said Col. Packard, as obtained by

Colorado State Patrol

.

The “Don’t Underestimate Impairment” campaign, spearheaded by the Colorado State Patrol this holiday season, is bringing stark attention to the repercussions that accompany a DUI conviction, which can include fines, jail time, and loss of driving privileges, the aim is to deter would-be drunk drivers by emphasizing the severity of these consequences, and to underscore the near impossibility of making sound decisions about driving once intoxication has kicked in, the campaign urges individuals not to underestimate the weight of their choices and to arrange sober transportation in advance of festivities.

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