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As Presidents’ Day approaches, CDOT urges drivers to remain vigilant with winter driving, driving sober

Traditionally, Presidents’ Day weekend is a time when thousands of Coloradans leave town and head into the mountains along the Interstate 70 mountain corridors. 

This time of year is also considered to be the “unofficial midpoint” of winter by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), which says traffic along the mountain corridor has dropped 6%.

But despite the drop, officials are urging but motorists to remain diligent when it comes to winter driving. 

“Winter driving preparedness is something every Coloradan should take seriously, even for short trips,” Andrew Hogle, a public information officer for CDOT, said in a media release. “Winter driving safety has nothing to do with the distance of your trip or number of cars on the road — it’s about how your car handles snow and ice.”

CDOT officials want motorist to remember the Traction Law that requires tires to have a minimum of three-sixteenths of tread depth on all vehicles — including four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles.

In addition, all motorists traveling on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero from Sept. 1 to May 31, must have proper tread depth or carry tire chains, or other approve alternative traction devices in case officials activate the Chain Law.

“The Traction Law can be wordy and confusing, but at its core, the law asks Coloradans to have the required tires and tread depth to limit delays and road closures and to keep everyone safe,” said Hogle. 

Officials also want motorist to remain mindful of the Tandem Snowplow Law, which makes it illegal to pass a group of snowplows operating in diagonal formation. 

And although the roads this Presidents’ Day might be less congested, CDOT, the Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies are reminding people to use a sober driver and that extra patrols will be on the roadways to make sure they do. 

“CDOT’s Whole System — Whole Safety mission is simple: Get Coloradans home safe,” said Darrell Lingk, CDOT Highway Safety Officer Director.

Despite there being 11% fewer motorists on the roadways last year, officials said there was an 18% increase in traffic fatalities involving impaired driving.

To try and reduce those numbers, agencies will have extra enforcement on the road from Feb. 12 through Feb. 22 during their annual Presidents’ Day DUI enforcement period.

Last year during the period law enforcement officials arrested 578 impaired drivers, CDOT officials said. 

“Impaired driving increases your chances of a crash significantly due to a variety of factors,” said CSP Chief Matthew Packard. “Drinking, drugs, and driving don’t go together — keep them separate.”

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