By Hunter Mathews
To some, driving is impossible without a playlist of your favorite songs or podcasts to skip through because you’re trying to find the “right one.” I remember when I was a kid, riding with my grandparents and listening to the same cassette tapes over and over again. Fast forward to when I was a teenager, when the iPod was a staple with the AUX chord, and you had to pay for every single song, so you didn’t mind what was playing; you were just happy not to have to listen to your grandparents’ music on repeat.
The point is, driving nowadays is full of different distractions. You’re not opening a cassette tape box or getting tangled up in an AUX chord; instead, you are messing with your phone, changing the music, or texting your “besty” and this causes you to take your eyes off the road for a fraction of time. During that split second, you can be traveling hundreds of feet, depending on the speed, and if the car in front of you slams on the brakes, you’re going to be asking yourself, “Why didn’t I just let that song play?” instead of being able to stop safely.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. During the month, I challenge everyone to change their driving behavior by putting the phone down, letting the song play, and letting the text wait, because everyone wants to get to where they are going safely. Use the month to make safe driving a habit for you and the generation to come.
ABOUT THE COLORADO STATE PATROL
Since our origin in 1935, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has focused on preserving human life and protecting property within our communities. Our 1,100 members embody the core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect in their daily jobs. In addition to our expertise in motor vehicle safety on the state’s roadways, the CSP is responsible for the protection of the Governor and other dignitaries, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, hazardous materials, homeland security, communications, investigative services, criminal interdiction, community education, aviation operations, and more. For additional information, visit us online at Colorado State Patrol.
Author Trooper Hunter Mathews is a trooper with the Colorado State Patrol, currently assigned to the Public Affairs Unit. He began his career as a Trooper in Troop 3A – Greeley, before transferring to the Public Information Officer position in June 2025.