Last year was one of the deadliest years on record for pedestrians in Colorado. In 2025, 127 pedestrians were killed on Colorado roadways, which is about double the number killed just 10 years ago. Pedestrians now account for nearly one-fifth of all traffic fatalities in the state.
With the recent transition to daylight saving time, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is highlighting a specific seasonal danger: darker morning commutes.
While the shift brings more evening light, the sunrise now occurs an hour later, leaving many pedestrians, school children and bicyclists in the dark until the sun is fully up. Additionally, as the weather warms up, more people are walking, running and cycling in the evenings.
With this data and the shift in daylight in mind, CDOT has launched a new campaign reminding motorists to slow down and exercise extra caution, particularly in neighborhoods and urban areas, to ensure the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
“The disturbing rise in pedestrian fatalities is not just a statistic — each one could be any of us, crossing the street over the course of our day,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “When you’re behind the wheel, respect traffic safety laws and be mindful that doing so can save lives.”
New data reveals a sobering trend: pedestrian fatalities in Colorado rose by 98.4 percent from 2015 to 2025.
More than 70 percent of pedestrian deaths happen after dark.
As Coloradans begin to spend more time outdoors this spring, CDOT urges the public to follow these essential safety tips:
• For drivers: Always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, use extra caution in residential areas, never drive impaired or distracted and remain extra vigilant in dark conditions.
• For pedestrians: Use marked crosswalks, follow “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” signals, and remain alert.
To help reverse the trend of pedestrian and cyclist injuries and fatalities, the state is prioritizing better-connected bike lanes, improved crosswalk visibility and more robust pedestrian-focused signal timing.
Learn more about bicycle and pedestrian safety at codot.gov/programs/bikeped.
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