Colorado drivers aren’t awful at driving in the snow. But that doesn’t mean they’re particularly good either.
The state is the 34th safest place to drive in the snow, according to a report by SafeWise. But when it comes to driving in the rain, Colorado is the fourth safest.
Across the United States, there were 2,368 fatalities from crashes in the rain and 482 from crashes in the snow in 2016.
Report authors analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2016 on the number of fatal car crashes due to snow and rain in each state. Keep in mind, this report includes states like Hawaii and Arizona.
“We work very hard to make our roads as safe as we can during inclement weather,” said Amy Ford, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Colorado had 13 reported crashes caused by snow, according to SafeWise. The chance of being in a crash caused by snow in Colorado is 0.24 per 100,000 people. Wyoming was the most dangerous wtih a 1.54 chance of a crash in snowy weather.
Colorado had 12 crashes caused by rain. The chances of being in a car crash in Colorado caused by rain are 0.22 per 100,000 people. South Dakota is the safest state for rain while Arkansas is the most dangerous.
“One death is too many on our roadways and we are very conscious about how we are trying to reduce fatalities on our roads,” Ford said.
Ford said Colorado’s topography can make driving in the snow challenging, especially on mountain passes. CDOT works ahead of, during and after storms to keep roads safe, she said. The agency also looks for engineering solutions and works to promote driver awareness.
She said drivers should remember that the safest way to drive in the snow is behind a plow, at a safe speed and with proper tires.
