(COLORADO) — The weather is getting warmer, and people are becoming more active, spending more time away from home for recreation and road trips. The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) is reminding drivers that, though things are speeding up in their lives, they need to be aware of their speed on the roa ds. “The temptation to speed is a real issue for some drivers, whether it is time pressure, an adrenaline rush, or a lack of awareness of the risks toward others,” explained Col. Mathew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Yet, controlling this urge is the responsibility of every license holder.” According to CSP, speeding citations peaked in April of 2024, with 4,341 citations, and remained high through the end of October. Speed limits are based on road design and traffic patterns and are designed to keep everyone safe. Speeding raises the risk of dangerous accidents in the following ways: Increased Rollover Accidents - The higher the speeds, the more risk that vehicles, especially tall ones, will roll over. Reduced Control - If an unexpected situation arises, higher speeds reduce your ability to control the vehicle. Extended Stopping Distances - The faster a vehicle is going, the longer it takes to stop, making the possibility of a collision much higher. Compromised Safety Features - Higher speeds reduce the effectiveness of a car's safety features, causing more serious injuries. Decreased Reaction Time - When a driver speeds, they have less time to react to a hazard, making it harder to avoid accidents. Greater Impact Force - A speeding vehicle will result in a more forceful impact during a collision, causing more severe damage and injuries. According to CSP, points and penalties for traffic violations in Colorado increase based on the severity of the violation. See the chart below for penalties for speeding. Courtesy: Colorado State Patrol CSP launched a three-month campaign called "Stop Speeding" and is taking a low-tolerance approach to top fatal crash factors, including speeding and lane violations, attempting to break the myth that speeding is a "victimless crime." CSP encourages people to drive as is a CSP trooper is riding with them. ...read more read less