A one-year analysis by Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) used data from millions of driving trips in Colorado. Data collected through smartphone apps and cellphone sensors found that distracted driving in the state declined 4.7 percent from 2024 to 2025 and dropped 8.3 percent in the first month after the law took effect.
CMT estimates this reduction helped prevent nearly 600 crashes, more than 400 injuries and six fatalities statewide. Colorado State Patrol (CSP) data also shows encouraging safety trends. In 2025, troopers investigated 3,778 crashes involving inattentive drivers — a nearly 9 percent decrease from 2024.
Enforcement may be making a difference. In 2025, CSP issued 216 percent more citations for drivers using an electronic device while driving compared to 2024.
“The increase in citations shows that troopers are actively enforcing Colorado’s hands-free law and holding distracted drivers accountable,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the CSP. “But enforcement alone isn’t the goal — we want drivers to change their behavior. When drivers keep their hands off their cellphones and their eyes on the road, everyone is safer.”
As Distracted Driving Awareness Month begins, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is reminding drivers that even small distractions behind the wheel can have serious consequences.
Colorado’s hands-free law makes it illegal for drivers to hold or handle a cellphone or other mobile device while driving, stopped in traffic or at a stoplight. Drivers must have a hands-free accessory to make calls or send messages. The law includes exemptions for individuals reporting emergencies.
“Colorado’s hands-free law is helping change habits, but it only works if drivers commit to it,”said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “When you’re behind the wheel, nothing on your phone is more important than getting everyone home safely.”
CDOT encourages all drivers to use hands-free accessories such as dashboard mounts, Bluetooth systems or built-in vehicle technology such as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to stay compliant with the law and keep their focus on the road.
“Colorado’s results show that hands-free laws work. In the first year alone, distracted driving fell, preventing hundreds of crashes and injuries,” said Tim Vogel, general manager of public sector at CMT. “Even modest reductions mean fewer drivers looking at their phones and more attention on the road, which directly saves lives.”
According to CDOT data, distracted driving continues to be a significant safety issue in Colorado. It has been the third leading contributing factor in traffic crashes, and experts say it is often under-reported, since officers must rely on drivers or witnesses to admit distraction.
Penalties for violating the hands- free law start with a $75 fine and two license suspension points for a first offense. First-time violators can have the charge dismissed if they provide proof of purchasing a hands-free accessory. Repeat offenders face higher fines and additional license suspension points.
For more information on the hands-free law, visit codot.gov/handsfreeco.