Colorado’s roads are waking up. Motorcycles are back in force after winter, and state troopers are sounding the alarm: the combination of eager riders, distracted drivers, and lingering winter grit has already proven deadly in early 2024.
Last Year’s Numbers Still Haunt Troopers
Colorado State Patrol investigated 750 motorcycle crashes in 2023, with 52 of them fatal. That matches the deadliest trends in years.
Even more alarming: preliminary 2024 data shows the state is on pace to exceed those numbers. Through May 2024, Colorado has already recorded 41 motorcycle fatalities, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation’s latest crash dashboard. That puts the state on track for one of its worst years ever for rider deaths.
The Same Preventable Mistakes Keep Killing Riders
Troopers say the top three causes haven’t changed in years.
- Lane violations (drivers turning in front of bikes)
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
“All three are 100% preventable,” CSP spokesperson Sherri Mendez told reporters this week.
Speeding alone was a factor in nearly 40% of last year’s fatal motorcycle crashes. Riders without proper motorcycle endorsements were also overrepresented in serious wrecks.
Winter Left Hidden Dangers on Mountain Roads
Early-season riders are facing extra hazards most drivers never notice.
Sand, gravel, and diesel spills that accumulated all winter still coat many curves, especially on popular routes like Highway 285, I-70 through the mountains, and the Peak to Peak Highway.
“We tell people to prepare for the slide, not the ride,” said Vinnie Perez, sales manager at Pikes Peak Indian Motorcycle in Colorado Springs. He’s ridden Colorado roads for 25 years.
Perez sees the same pattern every April and May: excited riders hit the twisties too hot, grab a handful of brake on sand, and lowsides turn into highsides that send them into guardrails.
Drivers Are the Biggest Threat to Motorcycles
The harsh truth is most motorcycle crashes aren’t the rider’s fault.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows car and truck drivers violate the motorcycle’s right-of-way in 63% of multi-vehicle crashes.
That “Sorry, I didn’t see you” excuse has killed hundreds of Colorado riders in the past decade.
May is national Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and CDOT is running its annual “Share the Road” campaign with digital signs flashing “Watch for Motorcycles” across the state.
What Riders Can Actually Do Right Now
Experienced riders and safety instructors agree on these non-negotiable steps:
- Get proper training: Colorado’s MOST (Motorcycle Operator Safety Training) courses saved lives last year
- Wear full gear every single ride (ATGATT): helmet, jacket, gloves, pants, boots
- Assume you are invisible to every driver
- Practice emergency braking and swerving in empty parking lots before the first big ride
- Slow down the first 1,000 miles of the season while your skills wake up
“People think gear is uncomfortable until they need it,” Perez said. “Then they wish they were wearing three times as much.”
Colorado remains one of the few states without a universal helmet law. Riders 18 and older can choose to ride without one. Last year, 60% of fatally injured motorcyclists were not wearing helmets.
The riding community here is passionate, tight-knit, and growing. Dealerships report record sales for 2024 models. New riders are flooding skills courses. But every veteran knows someone who didn’t make it home.
As the high country snow melts and the passes open, Colorado’s breathtaking roads are calling. The message from troopers, safety advocates, and riders themselves is simple but urgent: enjoy the freedom, respect the risk, and make it home for dinner.
Because nothing ruins a perfect riding season faster than becoming another statistic.
What do you think needs to happen to make Colorado roads safer for motorcyclists? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
