Keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times … and keep your eyes on the road! Beginning the first of the year, Colorado will join 29 other states in banning the use of cell phones while driving unless using a hands-free accessory — with the exception of emergency situations. If you’re wondering why that’s not already illegal, well, it’s a bit complicated, explained Sam Cole, communications manager at the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
The graduated driver’s license laws, which are still in effect here in the Centennial State and have been since 1999, have a number of rules that only apply to drivers under the age of 18, one of which bans the use of cell phones while driving. They also require new drivers to adhere to several other rules, including no driving between the hours of midnight and 5am. Additionally, they limit the number of passengers allowed in their vehicles at one time.
Up to this point, cell phone laws have been fairly relaxed for adult drivers. As Colorado law currently dictates, adults are not allowed to use their cell phones for texting while driving, but there are no specific rules regarding cell phone usage beyond that. This means that glancing down at your phone to, say, put in GPS coordinates at a red light, queue up a Spotify playlist or call grandma back have all been legitimate — despite studies showing that using a mobile device while driving increases the risk of a crash by two to six times.
“This new legislation is a crucial step toward making Colorado’s roads safer for everyone,” said Shoshana Lew, executive director of CDOT. “By encouraging drivers to focus solely on the task of driving, we can reduce the number of distracted driving incidents and prevent crashes that often come with such behavior. This law aligns with best practices from across the nation and reflects our commitment to protecting all road users, whether in a vehicle, on a bike or walking.”
Pedestrians and bicyclists are particularly at risk of harm by distracted drivers. From 2015 to 2023, deaths among pedestrians and bicyclists increased by 50% and 112.5%, respectively. And Colorado’s population grew by less than 8% during the same period, according to CDOT.
As detailed in a recent survey, Cole said, up to 77% of Coloradans admitted to using their cell phones while driving. “We’re now seeing crashes that involve a distraction as one of the top contributing factors of crashes in Colorado. That’s why, I think, the legislature felt like they really needed to act, to at least rein in one of those distractions. One of those most deadly distractions,” he continued, “involves people using their phone.”
It’s no secret that young Americans are spending more time on their phones than in previous decades, making distracted driving a significant problem for tech-savvy millennials and Gen Z. In recent years, rehab centers have even launched programs specifically for cell phone and social media addiction, including at Peaks Recovery Center in Colorado Springs.
“Younger generations tend to be ‘addicted’ to their phones, for lack of a better word,” Cole stated. “They cannot fathom not using their phone for a 20-minute car ride. They have to pick it up, they have to scroll, they have to see what’s going on … It’s become normalized amongst drivers in their 20s and 30s.”
In an effort to raise awareness about the new hands-free-law prior to New Years Day, CDOT has launched an awareness campaign. Cole recommends purchasing a hands-free accessory for your vehicle if you do not already have one, and to get into the habit of queueing up directions or your playlist before heading to your destination.
Penalties for violating the new law start with a $75 fine and two points off a driver’s license for a first offense. First-time violators could have the charge dismissed if they provide proof of purchasing a hands-free accessory, like a car mount. Repeat offenders face higher fines and more points suspended from their license.
Other states that have banned cell phone usage while driving have since seen significant decreases in accidents. Michigan, for example, passed a hands-free phone law in 2023 and has seen a 12.8% decrease in distracted-driving crashes.
“For a long time, troopers have been able to detect when someone is driving distracted by a vehicle weaving between lanes, delayed starts at stop signs and lights — not to mention seeing a phone or other device in a driver’s hand,” said Colorado State Patrol Chief Matthew Packard. “This legislation allows us to address risky and careless behaviors in a proactive way to increase the safety of all roadway users.”
Colorado to enforce hands-free law Jan. 1
