Colorado Will Observe National Pedestrian Safety Month
As daylight hours decrease, state agencies are urging drivers and pedestrians to exercise extra caution on the road.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Car Types
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Do you feel road users in your area prioritize safety during darker evening rush hours?
Beginning October 1, 2026, the Colorado Department of Transportation will observe National Pedestrian Safety Month. This initiative responds to the annual decline in daylight hours, which presents significant safety risks for commuters across the state.
Why it matters
Nearly 60% of pedestrian deaths in Colorado have occurred between September and February over the past five years. This safety campaign highlights the critical need for increased vigilance as fading evening light reduces visibility for those on the road.
Colorado saw 131 pedestrian fatalities in 2025, compared to 64 in 2015. Notably, October fatalities dropped to 14 in 2025 from 17 in October 2024.
The players
Colorado Department of Transportation
The state agency that manages 23,000 lane miles of highways and promotes traffic and pedestrian safety programs.
Colorado State Patrol
The law enforcement agency tasked with monitoring state roads and enforcing traffic safety regulations.
The details
The safety campaign focuses on the transition to lower-light conditions, particularly as Denver loses roughly 70 minutes of daylight during September. Safety advocates demonstrate reduced visibility at sunset to illustrate why drivers must obey speed limits and pedestrians should use designated crosswalks. The state maintains over 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,400 bridges to support these travel safety efforts.
Timeline
2015: 64 pedestrian fatalities occurred in Colorado.
2024-10: 17 pedestrian fatalities occurred in Colorado.
2025: 131 pedestrian fatalities occurred in Colorado.
2025-10: 14 pedestrian fatalities occurred in Colorado.
- 2026-10-01
National Pedestrian Safety Month begins.
The Home Front
The designation of October as a safety month follows historical data showing that a majority of fatal pedestrian incidents occur during the darker fall and winter months. This effort serves as a regulatory attempt to reverse long-term trends in traffic-related fatalities on state roads.
Plan to increase your vigilance at intersections and around school zones during your evening commutes as daylight fades earlier each day. If you walk or jog, consider wearing reflective gear or light-colored clothing to ensure you remain visible to drivers during the dusk hours.
The takeaway
Increased awareness of visibility challenges is critical for household safety during the autumn transition. Keep a record of your local transit routes or school zone hours to adjust your travel times during the months of reduced daylight.
Further reading
For more on road safety resources, visit the Car Types section.
More information
Find additional resources on the bicycle and pedestrian safety programs portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Steamboat Radio.
Live Poll
Do you feel road users in your area prioritize safety during darker evening rush hours?
