Roadways are less congested along the Colorado Western Slope when contrasted with the metro area of Denver. With that duly noted, motor vehicle accidents on the Western Slope occur at a significantly higher rate during the morning and evening commute.

Rate of lethal car accidents during drive times

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration collects data annually regarding fatal car crashes. The agency presents that data via the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The data collected by the NHTSA underscores that commuting to and from work remains one of the deadliest times to be on U.S. roadways.

NHTSA data analysis reveals that 24% of all fatal automobile accidents occur during morning and evening work commutes. The evening commute is more dangerous than the morning, according to the agency’s data. More than 60% of fatal commuting accidents occurring during the evening drive home.

Friday is the riskiest day to commute with the largest number drive time deaths occurring at the end of the week. September and October are reported to be the riskiest months to be on the street commuting to and from work.

Prime times for commuting accidents are between 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The NHTSA indicates that “nodding off” at the wheel, or driving why drowsy, is the most common underlying cause of roadway accidents during these specific time periods.

Rate of commute time car accidents in Colorado

Colorado hits neither the top nor the bottom 10 when it comes to the rate of automobile accidents during the morning and evening commute. The state is nestled in the middle when contrasted to the proportion of commute time auto accidents across the nation as a whole.

Commuting alternatives including public transportation is safer than using a personal vehicle, according to the NHTSA. Although public transport options are limited in many locales along the Western Slope, commuting to work by bus is available in a good number of communities.