Colorado transportation and safety agencies have launched a campaign this week to highlight the risks faced by crash responders on state roads and urge drivers to follow Colorado’s Move Over Law. The initiative, part of Crash Responder Safety Week (Nov. 17-21), involves the Colorado State Patrol, the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
“We owe our first responders a huge round of thanks,” said CDOT Deputy Director of Operations Bob Fifer. “They are the true heroes on our roadways as they work to save lives at a crash scene. Unfortunately, far too often, drivers aren’t paying attention as they approach a crash scene and cause a second crash. We must all do our part to keep our first responders safe by slowing down and remaining alert. These responders are putting their lives on the line every day.”
Governor Jared Polis has signed an official proclamation for Crash Responder Safety Week in Colorado, urging residents to remain vigilant for emergency workers along roadways and reduce speed when approaching flashing lights.
To demonstrate the dangers responders face, Colorado State Patrol held a simulated crash at its Golden training facility that included participation from Flight for Life. The demonstration illustrated how secondary crashes can turn minor incidents into serious emergencies.
“This week highlights the critical need for motorists to slow down and move over to protect our first responders and roadside workers,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “When you see lights flashing ahead, no matter the color, please create a safe workspace for these people. Crash responders show up for the fender bender to the major collisions to assist those involved and get the road open as quickly as possible.”
Each year in Colorado, emergency personnel continue to be injured or killed by passing vehicles during secondary incidents—including while working scheduled maintenance projects or clearing previous crashes. Agencies including CDOT work together with law enforcement statewide to ensure staff are trained in updated procedures designed for faster and safer incident clearance.
Data collected by CDOT shows that between 2022 and 2024 there were 4,775 secondary crashes across Colorado resulting in 259 serious injuries and 43 deaths—most among vehicle occupants themselves. As of this year alone, there have been 1,152 such incidents with 12 fatalities and 59 serious injuries.
State law requires drivers encountering any stationary vehicle with flashing hazard lights on highways to move over one lane if possible; if not feasible due to traffic conditions or other reasons, motorists must reduce their speed by at least 20 miles per hour below posted limits. The Move Over Law is considered among the strongest nationally in terms of protecting police officers, tow operators, emergency crews and even disabled vehicles stopped roadside.
According to data from federal health officials cited by authorities this week, towing remains one of America’s most dangerous professions—towing industry workers face fatality rates much higher than average private sector employees nationwide.
On average each year in Colorado more than 100,000 traffic accidents require an emergency response presence on state roads.
