Colorado State Patrol launches campaign against distracted driving

It takes only seconds for a driver to get distracted and cause a crash. The Colorado State Patrol is launching a new awareness campaign in April, highlighting common causes of crashes due to distracted driving.

"Distracted driving isn't just texting. It's anything that takes your eyes or hands or focus off the road. It comes in many forms, and only takes one second for reaction time to change drastically," CSP said.

The campaign is called "Seconds Matter," and it will last through the summer.

CSP said that smartphone apps and cellphone sensors have shown a 4.7% decline in distracted driving in the state since the implementation of Colorado's hands-free law. They estimate that the drop helped prevent nearly 600 crashes, over 400 injuries and six fatalities statewide.

However, it still remains a significant problem. The state patrol says it investigated over 3,700 crashes caused by distracted driving last year.

"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."