Colorado · Handbook chapter 10 · 5 min read

Chapter 10: Careless driving, emergencies and crashes

Colorado's rules on distracted, aggressive and reckless driving, reporting with *CSP, avoiding collisions, animals, brake and tire failures, stuck accelerators, what to do after a crash, the Move It and Move Over laws and first aid.

Why this chapter matters

Most crashes start with a moment of carelessness. Colorado has clear laws on reckless driving, a special number for reporting aggressive drivers, and two crash laws, Move It and Move Over, that the test likes to ask about.

Distracted driving

A distraction takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel or your mind off driving. Do not eat, drink, read, smoke or vape, put on makeup or fiddle with music while driving. Using a mobile device by hand is banned unless you are using it hands-free or in an emergency; texting or other manual use that makes you drive carelessly can bring a fine or a misdemeanor charge. Pull off the road to use your phone.

Aggressive and reckless driving

• Aggressive driving is willful behavior that puts people or property in danger. Tailgating, passing on the shoulder, running a red light, cutting people off, swerving at others and angry honking or gestures can all count.
• Reckless driving is driving in a way that endangers people or property, intended or not. A conviction can add up to 8 points.
• Displaying a weapon, ramming a car or chasing someone can bring criminal charges.
• If someone drives aggressively at you, do not engage: avoid eye contact, back off and let them go.
• Report aggressive or impaired drivers by dialing *CSP (*277). The call is free.

Avoiding a collision

You have three options: slow down or stop, turn, or speed up.

• Stopping with ABS: press hard and firmly and keep your foot down; you may feel the pedal push back.
• Stopping without ABS: brake as hard as you can without locking the wheels; if they lock, ease off slightly, then brake again.
• You can usually turn faster than you can stop. With ABS you can steer while braking; without ABS, brake, then release the brake before you turn.
• It is generally better to run off the road than to crash head-on.
• Speed up only when there is room ahead and danger from the side or behind.

Animals

About 90 percent of crashes with deer and elk happen between dusk and dawn. Slow down in animal crossing areas. Swerving hard for a large animal can cause a worse crash; sometimes hitting the animal is the safest choice, so focus on keeping control.

Vehicle emergencies

• Brake failure: take your foot off the gas and pump the brake pedal. If that fails, apply the parking brake slowly so the rear wheels do not lock, and be ready to release it. Then shift to lower gears and find a safe place to stop. Do not drive on without brakes.
• Tire blowout: hold the wheel tightly, keep straight, slow down gradually with your foot off the gas and brake lightly. Pull off once you have slowed.
• Power failure: grip the wheel firmly; steering is heavy but still works. Brakes still work but need a hard push.
• Headlight failure: pull off, try the switch, then use flashers, signals or fog lights.
• Stuck gas pedal: keep your eyes on the road, shift to neutral, pull off when safe and turn off the engine.

After a crash

• Stop and never leave the scene.
• Check for injuries and give reasonable help.
• Call law enforcement and emergency services.
• Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, registration and insurance details. You must show proof of insurance to police at the scene or at the station.
• If the driver cannot report an injury crash, a passenger must report it.
• Hit a parked car and cannot find the owner? Call police and leave a note where the owner will see it.
• Accident Alert Status (when weather is so bad police cannot attend every crash): if there are no injuries, no alcohol or drugs and the cars can be driven, exchange information and file a report within 24 hours.

The Move It Law

After a minor crash on a divided highway, you must move your vehicles off the road if they can be driven, no one is hurt and no drugs or alcohol are involved. Police and insurers will not penalize you for moving.

The Move Over Law

When you approach any stationary vehicle with its hazards flashing, move over one lane if it is safe. If you cannot, or the road has only one lane each way, slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit. The law protects police, fire, maintenance, tow truck drivers and you.

First aid and Good Samaritans

Colorado's Good Samaritan law protects people who help in an emergency and act as a reasonable person would: move a victim only if their life is in danger, ask a conscious person's permission before helping, check for life-threatening problems first, and call for professional help.