Colorado’s hands-free driving law, which went into effect on January 1st, has shown early success in curbing distracted driving, according to research by Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT). The law prohibits the use of handheld mobile devices while driving, with exemptions for emergencies, making Colorado the 30th state in the country to implement such a ban.
CMT’s data shows that cellphone motion distraction has decreased by 3.3% statewide since the law took effect. This improvement has led to the prevention of 88 crashes, 49 injuries, and $3.5 million in economic damages. Tim Vogel, GM of Public Sector at CMT, stated that Colorado’s early results demonstrate the positive impact of hands-free laws, but continued efforts in enforcement and public awareness are crucial to maintaining and expanding these reductions.
A study by CMT analyzed nearly four million trips in Colorado between December 2024 and mid-February 2025, measuring drivers’ phone motion distraction. Similar laws in other states have shown sustained declines in distraction over time, with Ohio’s initial drop of 8.1% increasing to nearly 14% after one year.
In response to the positive results, the Colorado Department of Transportation plans to launch a public awareness campaign to ensure that drivers are aware of the law and the dangers of distracted driving. With continued effort and enforcement, the hands-free driving law in Colorado has the potential to prevent more crashes and save lives.
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