Colorado is among the nation’s leaders in fatal crashes due to aggressive or careless driving, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A recent national analysis of fatal crashes placed Colorado among the top five states for fatal crashes involving unsafe driving behaviors, including speeding, following too closely, changing lanes too quickly and “inattentive operation,” the highway safety agency states. Of the 642 fatal crashes on Colorado roads last year, 288 involved either aggressive or careless driving – a nearly 45% rate that leads all states except Arkansas, Louisiana, New Jersey and Hawaii.

Colorado State Patrol troopers handed out more than 42,000 speeding tickets last year, but tickets don’t seem to deter drivers from speeding, the data suggests. Statewide, more than 500 fatal and injury crashes involved at least one speeding driver in 2025, officials said.

“We aren’t going to ‘ticket’ our way out of this ranking,” said State Patrol Chief Matthew Packard. “It’s a joint effort with loved ones to help aggressive drivers rethink their stance on speeding, tailgating, or other unsafe behaviors before troopers need to intervene and remind you.”

So far this year, there have been more than 250 traffic fatalities statewide, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

In Colorado Springs, there have been 32 vehicle deaths in 2026, six more than this time last year, according to police data. In the past 365 days, 59 motorists have died on Colorado Springs roads.

In Denver, there have been 34 traffic deaths so far this year, according to the city’s Vision Zero tracking dashboard.

It is not yet known how many of those deaths were caused by aggressive or careless driving, but State Trooper Sherri Mendez said the number would almost certainly be lower if more drivers made it a point to be safe and courteous on the roads.

“If people would engage in safer driving behaviors – rethink speeding, give each other space on the road – this number would decrease,” Mendez said. “Drive the speed limit. Maintain awareness on the road, especially when changing lanes. Many of these fatal crashes are avoidable.”

A bit of good news: More motorists are reporting hazardous driving behaviors in real time, according to State Patrol. Last year, the State Patrol’s dedicated *277 line saw a notable increase in public engagement, with emergency dispatchers answering 58,117 total calls from motorists reporting real-time roadway hazards. This represents a nearly 6% increase over the 54,956 calls received in 2024. More than 57% of these reports were specifically related to road rage or aggressive driving.

“Increased reporting is a good thing,” said Mendez, who added that *277 reporters won’t be held liable under the hands-free driving law. “It lets drivers know that other people on the road are paying attention, and reporting violations when they see them.”

When reporting aggressive or careless behavior on the road, be prepared to provide that dispatcher with as much information as possible, Mendez said.

“Know the vehicle description, the license plate number when possible, and specify what the other driver is doing,” she said. “That will help our troopers spot the offending vehicle.”

Finally, Mendez cautioned drivers to resist the impulse to respond to aggressive driving by engaging in unsafe practices.

“Don’t let an aggressive driver turn you into an aggressive driver,” she said. “That’s how some of the worst road-rage incidents happen.”