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When high school students went back to school this year, the Colorado Department of Transportation decided to help them stay a little safer behind the wheel. The CDOT launched a public awareness campaign to educate teens about driving safety. This campaign is called “Keep Your License Safe.” It aims to remind teens about the dangers of driving and help them use safer driving skills. It also sends out informative messages about Colorado’s Graduated Drivers Licensing Laws.
This campaign coincides with a 13% increase in fatalities among teen drivers between 2015 and 2019. This is concerning for many parents and safety experts. The graduated licensing program helps to address some of the main causes of teen car accidents.
What Are Colorado’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing Laws?
Colorado, like many states, has adopted a graduated licensing program for all new teen drivers.
- No passengers under the age of 21 for the first six months. Studies show that young drivers are two and a half times more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors when they have another peer in the car.
- No texting and driving, and no using a cellphone while driving. Teens who text and driving are 23 times more likely to get into a serious car accident.
- Always buckle up. The majority of teens involved in fatal accidents were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. This law makes it mandatory for teenage drivers under the age of 18 to buckle up. It is also mandatory for their passengers to wear seat belts. This means that a police officer can stop you if you or your passengers are not wearing seat belts.
Since Colorado enacted the GDL laws, there has been a significant decrease in traffic deaths involving teenage drivers between 16 and 17.
Injured in a Car Accident?
If you suffered an injury in a car accident in Colorado Springs, it is important to know that the law is on your side. You have a right to seek compensation for your injuries and for the damages that occurred. To do this, you must file a claim with the at-fault driver and their insurance company.
This is not always easy. Insurance companies routinely try to deny claims in an attempt to reduce their compensation. They may also offer you a quick settlement and encourage you to sign it. These settlements are often just a fraction of what you may need – and they know it.
To protect your rights to compensation, it is important to call an experienced Colorado Springs car accident attorney as soon as you are able. Your attorney will need to investigate your accident and identify all liable parties. Without legal representation, you may be left paying for your accident on your own.
Contact the Green Law Firm, P.C. today by calling (719) 694-8515, or by filling out the contact form on this page, to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and discuss your case.