Colorado’s hands-free law has contributed to a 4.7% decrease in distracted driving and helped prevent nearly 600 crashes across the state, according to a Mar. 31 announcement by the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The reduction is significant because it highlights the potential for legislation and enforcement to improve road safety. Data from Cambridge Mobile Telematics showed that after the law took effect, distracted driving dropped by 8.3% in its first month and continued to fall throughout the year. The analysis estimated that this led to more than 400 fewer injuries and six fewer fatalities statewide.
Enforcement has also increased under the new law. Colorado State Patrol troopers investigated almost 9% fewer inattentive driver crashes in 2025 compared with the previous year, while citations for electronic device use while driving rose by over twofold during that period.
“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 Colorado State Patrol. “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 April 1, officials are reminding drivers about potential consequences of even small distractions behind the wheel.
The hands-free law makes it illegal for drivers to hold or handle mobile devices while operating a vehicle or stopped at lights unless using a hands-free accessory; there are exemptions for emergencies and certain workers or parked vehicles.
“Colorado’s hands-free law is helping change habits, but it only works if drivers commit to it,” said Shoshana Lew, executive director of CDOT according to the official website. “When you’re behind the wheel, nothing on your phone is more important than getting everyone home safely.”
Tim Vogel of Cambridge Mobile Telematics said: “Colorado’s results show that hands-free laws work. In the first year alone, distracted driving fell, preventing hundreds of crashes and injuries… With the ability to measure these changes in near real time, states can clearly see what’s working and where to go further.”
According to the official website, CDOT works on integrated transportation solutions aimed at improving quality of life through effective multi-modal systems that safely transport people and goods while maintaining environmental standards; it oversees infrastructure including highways as well as grants for aviation and transit.
