Distracted Driving
Text messaging is prohibited for all drivers. Persons under 18 are prohibited from using a wireless telephone while driving.
Headsets
Wearing earphones is not permitted while driving. Exempts hearing devices built into protective headgear and headsets covering only one ear and used with a hand-held telephone.
Impaired Driving
Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia prohibit the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating beverages, with the illegal per se limit set at 0.08 percent blood alcohol content (.08 BAC). Utah’s per se limit is 0.05 BAC. All 50 states and the District of Columbia set the legal drinking age at 21.
Colorado law specifies that drivers with 5 nanograms of active tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in their whole blood can be prosecuted for driving under the influence.
Every state’s chemical test law has ‘‘an implied consent’’ provision providing that any person operating a motor vehicle on a public highway, who is suspected of driving while intoxicated, consents to a chemical test to determine if he or she is inebriated. Failure to submit or pass such a test may cause the driver’s license to be suspended or revoked regardless of any court action finding the person innocent of the charge.
The most comprehensive resource on U.S. impaired driving laws is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Digest of Impaired Driving and Selected Beverage Control Laws. NHTSA’s Digest is updated annually.
Colorado requires the use of ignition interlocks for all impaired driving offenders.
Move Over Law
State law requires drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles that are displaying flashing lights, including tow trucks, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest, if safe and possible to do so, or to reduce to a speed safe for weather, road, and traffic conditions. Also included in the law are utility vehicles and road maintenance vehicles.
Seat Belts
Seats belts are required for the driver and front seat passengers age 16 and older.
Violation of the seat belt law is a secondary offense.
Riding in a pickup truck bed is not permitted unless a person is seated in an enclosed cargo area.
Local jurisdictions may require off-road vehicle riders to wear seat belts or utilize child restraints if these safety devices are installed by the manufacturer.
Child Passenger Safety
Children ages 8 until 16 must wear seat belts.
Children under age 8 must use a forward facing car seat or booster seat
Children under age 4 and less than 40 lbs., shall be properly restrained in a child restraint system.
Children under age 1 and under 20 lbs. shall use a rear-facing child restraint system.
Violation of the booster seat and the child restraint law are standard offenses.
Railroad Crossing
Any driver of a motor vehicle approaching a railroad crossing sign shall slow down to a reasonable speed.
If required to stop, driver shall stop at the marked stop line. If there is no line, driver shall stop no less than 15 feet nor more than 50 feet from the railroad crossing.
The driver of a school bus, or the driver of any vehicle carrying hazardous materials, is required to stop vehicle, listen, and look before proceeding across railroad tracks.
School Buses
Upon meeting or overtaking from either direction a school bus that has stopped, a motor vehicle driver must stop at least 20 feet before reaching the bus and not proceed until the visual signal lights are no longer being used.