CSP Reveals Colorado Counties Ignoring Traffic Signals

Ignoring traffic signals can lead to car accidents, which can result in severe injuries or wrongful death. To help increase awareness about this issue, National Stop on Red Week is observed annually, the first full week of August. The annual campaign encourages drivers to follow traffic laws and highlights the potential dangers of ignoring traffic signals. To coincide with National Stop on Red Week, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has released a report on traffic signal violations in Colorado, identifying the counties with the highest rates.

Key Data From the CSP Report

Some key findings from the 2024 CSP report show there were:

401 total crashes at intersections
324 injuries and fatalities from those crashes

The CSP also issued 1,549 citations statewide for drivers who failed to stop at a stop sign or ignored traffic signals.

Statewide, there were 274 fatalities and 3,535 injury crashes for all types of car accidents. These figures represent the crashes investigated by the CSP, and do not include crash data from other police agencies.

2024 statewide data from the Colorado DOT for all police agencies shows a total of 2,424 injury and fatality crashes where drivers failed to stop at a traffic signal. There were another 648 injury and fatality crashes from drivers who failed to stop at a stop sign. Additionally, there were 6,371 crashes with injuries and deaths from failing to yield the right-of-way.

Counties With the Highest Number of Violations

The Colorado counties with the highest number of citations for ignoring traffic signals are:

Arapahoe County
Adams County
Douglas County
El Paso County
Weld County

Cities in each of the counties include Centennial, Greeley, Thornton, Castle Rock, and Colorado Springs.

Why Red Light Violations Are Dangerous

When a driver disregards a red light or stop sign, they fail to yield the right-of-way, which could lead to a car crash with potentially severe injuries or fatalities. Intersections pose unique challenges of navigating multiple lanes of traffic all heading in different directions. The convergence of traffic patterns, combined with people ignoring traffic signals, significantly increases the risks of crashes.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, at least 25% of all traffic fatalities and almost 50% of all traffic injuries in the country are from intersection car crashes. In 2022, there were 42,514 traffic fatalities nationwide, with 12,036 of them occurring at an intersection.

Some of the most common types of intersection crashes include:

T-bone accidents
Multi-vehicle accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Bicyclist accidents

Consequences of Red Light Violations

Some of the legal consequences of red light violations, regardless of whether an accident occurs, include:

Traffic tickets
Fines ranging from $75 to $150
Points added to your driving record

They could also be deemed negligent and liable for any injuries or deaths that occur in a crash. They could face addiction legal consequences, such as being charged with vehicular homicide, a Class Four felony, or a Class Three felony if they were driving under the influence.

Furthermore, the victim or their surviving family members can sue the driver in civil court to seek monetary compensation for their losses.

What Drivers Should Know

To help reduce the risk of car accidents at intersections, drivers should practice the following safe driving tips:

Never try to beat a yellow light.
Treat stop signs the same as a red light and come to a complete stop.
Treat yield signs the same as a flashing red light, coming to a complete stop.
Reduce speed and be prepared to stop when approaching a flashing yellow light.
Stay alert and focused when approaching intersections.
Slow down and reduce speed, even when you have a green light.
Use your turn signals in advance of the turn.
Maintain a safe following distance.
Be prepared to stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and bicyclists.

When Can You Disobey a Traffic Control Signal?

There are a few instances where you can disobey a traffic signal as follows:

When instructed by a police officer or other official.
To make room for an emergency vehicle.
When making an allowed right turn on red.

Legal Action

Victims of red light violations have the legal right to file a civil lawsuit against the at-fault party and seek compensation for their injuries and property damages. However, navigating intersection crashes and securing a favorable settlement often requires assistance from experienced car accident lawyers.

Get Help From Our Colorado Car Accident Lawyers Today

At Bachus & Schanker, we understand the impacts that an intersection crash can have on you and your loved ones. For catastrophic and wrongful death situations, we provide clients with access to our Elite Litigation Group and Victim’s Advocates for additional support and guidance during this difficult time. We offer a free consultation and take cases on a contingency basis, meaning you do not owe us any legal fees until we win. Find out your legal rights and get the help you need now.