A recent national analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fatality crash data placed Colorado in the top five states for the highest shares of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving. Of the 642 fatal crashes on Colorado roadways last year, 288 involved aggressive or careless driving (Lending Tree, July 6).
The top five states for fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving, in order, are: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, Hawaii and Colorado. The ranking is based on the percentage of fatal crashes that contained at least one unsafe driving behavior, including aggressive driving, careless driving, inattentive operation, improper driving and driving without due care.
“Despite over 42,000 speeding citations last year from our agency, troopers know that this behavior continues on Colorado roadways,” stated Chief Matthew C. Packard of the Colorado State Patrol (CSP). “We aren’t going to ‘ticket’ our way out of this ranking. 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.”
The CSP investigated more than 500 fatal and injury crashes involving a speeding driver last year. Some additional indicators of aggressive driving in 2025 were the 2,795 crashes investigated by troopers involving following too closely. An additional 26 crashes investigated by the CSP were due to unsafe or illegal passing.
If you encounter an aggressive driver who is putting other motorists at risk, avoid them by getting out of the way. Do not make eye contact, respond with a hand gesture or indicate disapproval of their driving behavior. Contact the CSP as soon as it is safe to do so by pulling over and calling *CSP (*277).
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