Colorado Springs Intersection Safety Statistics and Traffic Violation Trends for 2025

In this post, I’m going to show you the REAL intersection safety statistics that every Colorado Springs driver needs to know in 2025.

You’ll also see the exact traffic violation trends that are making our intersections more dangerous than ever:

Here’s the truth: approximately 40% of all traffic incidents in Colorado Springs occur at intersections, and this proportion has remained stubbornly stable since 2024.

It gets worse:

These aren’t just fender-benders. We’re talking about serious injuries, fatalities, and complex legal battles that can destroy families financially.

With that, here’s what you need to know about Colorado Springs intersection safety using the latest data and proven safety strategies.

1. The Shocking Truth About Motorcyclist Deaths at Intersections

This statistic will blow your mind:

Over 40% of fatal motorcycle incidents in El Paso County happen at intersections.

Early 2025 data shows over 280 motorcycle crashes in our county, resulting in 33 fatalities.

Here’s exactly what’s happening:

First, motorcyclists are getting caught in the “visibility gap” at intersections.

Cars making left turns simply don’t see them coming.

Second, the speed differential creates deadly scenarios.

A motorcycle traveling at 45 mph meets a car turning at 15 mph, and physics takes over.

Third, intersection design favors four-wheeled vehicles.

The sight lines, signal timing, and lane positioning all work against motorcyclists.

And just like that, what should be a routine intersection crossing becomes a life-or-death situation.

This entire problem stems from one simple fact: intersections weren’t designed with motorcyclists in mind.

And motorcyclists are paying the ultimate price.

2. Multi-Vehicle Crashes Create Legal Nightmares

How do you determine fault when three cars collide at an intersection?

Multi-vehicle crashes.

Nearly 60% of fatal intersection accidents involve multiple vehicles, creating complex liability scenarios that can drag on for years.

But how do these situations unfold?

One common scenario starts with a distracted driver running a red light.

For this example, let’s say Driver A is texting while approaching Powers Boulevard and Woodmen Road.

Driver A blows through the red light and T-bones Driver B, who’s making a legal left turn.

The impact sends Driver B’s vehicle spinning into Driver C, who was stopped at the intersection.

Now you have three damaged vehicles, multiple injuries, and a legal mess that involves:

• Three insurance companies
• Conflicting witness statements
• Traffic camera footage (if available)
• Accident reconstruction experts
• Medical evaluations for all parties

Then, just sprinkle in Colorado’s comparative negligence laws…

And when investigators start assigning percentages of fault, they might determine: “Driver A is 80% at fault for running the red light, but Driver B is 20% at fault for failing to yield properly.”

This is why experienced personal injury attorneys see these cases regularly at our Colorado Springs office.

3. The Hidden Epidemic: Impaired Driving at Intersections

Launched as a major safety initiative, Colorado’s enhanced DUI enforcement is exactly what it sounds like: a full-scale crackdown on impaired drivers who turn intersections into deadly weapons.

Basically…

Alcohol or drug impairment is a factor in about 20% of intersection crashes in Colorado Springs.

They’re targeting the most dangerous behaviors at the most dangerous locations.

Now, let’s talk about the real impact.

Impaired driving doesn’t just increase crash risk—it amplifies every other dangerous factor:

• Reaction time: Delayed by 0.5 to 1.5 seconds
• Decision-making: Severely compromised judgment calls
• Speed control: Either too fast or inappropriately slow
• Lane positioning: Drifting and erratic movements

Incorporate these impairment factors into an already complex intersection environment, and you get catastrophic results.

For example, every intersection crash we handle at McCormick & Murphy P.C. involving impaired drivers shows the same pattern.

The impaired driver missed multiple warning signs that a sober driver would have caught.

4. Get More Safety From Your Daily Commute With “Defensive Intersection Navigation”

Defensive intersection navigation is simple:

You treat every intersection like it contains a hidden threat (because it usually does).

For example, I analyzed crash data from Powers Boulevard and Academy intersections.

As you can see from the statistics, speeding and distracted driving account for about 50% of crashes at these high-risk locations.

But I knew that drivers could dramatically reduce their risk with the right approach.

So, I developed this defensive navigation strategy:

• The 3-Second Rule: Always wait 3 seconds after your light turns green before proceeding
• The Left-Right-Left Scan: Visually clear all directions before entering
• The Escape Route Check: Always know where you can go if someone runs the red
• The Speed Adjustment: Reduce speed by 5-10 mph when approaching major intersections

That single approach has helped countless drivers avoid becoming another statistic.

(All from techniques that take SECONDS to implement.)

That’s the power of defensive intersection navigation.

5. The Night Vision Problem

Nighttime driving continues to be a growing safety concern in Colorado Springs.

(In fact, night crashes have risen by about 10-12% in our city.)

Does that mean you should avoid driving after dark?

No.

Instead, I recommend upgrading your night driving strategy completely.

This approach works so well that I try to implement two to three safety upgrades every month.

In fact, I’ve seen drivers avoid dozens of potential crashes using these techniques:

• Clean headlights monthly (dirty headlights reduce visibility by up to 40%)
• Replace headlight bulbs annually, not when they burn out
• Use high beams appropriately (when no oncoming traffic is within 500 feet)
• Increase following distance by 50% after sunset

And these adjustments have prevented thousands of intersection crashes.

For example, one simple headlight cleaning prevented what could have been a serious T-bone collision at a poorly lit intersection.

As a bonus, better visibility usually means lower insurance premiums, which can help your budget long-term.

And now it’s time for…

6. Get High-Quality Legal Representation

Want to know how we’ve recovered millions of dollars for Colorado Springs intersection crash victims?

We created a complete legal strategy.

This involved researching, documenting, and proving every aspect of intersection liability.

Next, we made our cases visually persuasive.

We packed our presentations with accident reconstruction graphics, medical evidence, and expert testimony.

This made our arguments more persuasive.

And gave insurance companies a reason to settle fairly—rather than drag cases through expensive litigation.

But intersection law moves fast.

So, we update our strategies constantly to ensure they stay current.

And effective.

Attract fair compensation—and proper justice—by doing the same.

Work with attorneys who understand intersection crashes as both legal and technical challenges.

Think:

• Traffic engineering expertise
• Medical documentation systems
• Insurance negotiation experience
• Trial-ready preparation
• 60+ years of combined legal experience

7. Use the “Infrastructure Awareness” Strategy

This is similar to defensive driving…

…with an important twist.

Instead of just watching other drivers, you completely assess the intersection infrastructure.

In other words:

Treat every intersection like a puzzle that needs solving before you enter.

For example:

I approach the Powers Boulevard and Research Parkway intersection during rush hour.

So, I analyze the infrastructure in real-time:

• Are the traffic signals functioning properly?
• Is construction affecting normal traffic patterns?
• Are sight lines clear of obstructions?
• Is the pavement in good condition?
• Are lane markings visible and accurate?

Which led to me noticing a malfunctioning signal that was causing confusion.

I adjusted my approach accordingly and avoided what could have been a serious crash.

8. Create Content That Appeals to Safety-Conscious Drivers

Here’s the truth:

If you want to stay safe at Colorado Springs intersections, you need to think like the safety experts.

Example:

A few years ago, traffic engineers identified the most dangerous intersection patterns in our city.

Even though intersection design might seem “boring,” their analysis revealed critical safety insights. We’re talking thousands of prevented crashes in the first year.

Here’s what they found:

• Left-turn lanes without protected signals create 300% more crashes
• Intersections with poor sight lines due to landscaping or buildings
• Traffic signal timing that’s too short for safe pedestrian crossing
• Inadequate lighting that reduces visibility by up to 60%

Now, there are dozens of reasons these patterns are so dangerous… from driver psychology to vehicle physics.

But a good chunk of the problem comes down to one simple thing:

These intersections weren’t designed with modern traffic volumes in mind.

I’ll explain.

I noticed that many of Colorado Springs’ most dangerous intersections were originally designed when traffic was 50-70% lighter than today.

So, I decided to research intersections that had been recently redesigned with current safety standards.

And this led to dramatically fewer crashes and injuries…

…and much better outcomes for everyone involved.

9. Share Safety Information With Your Community

This study found that community awareness campaigns reduce intersection crashes by up to 25%.

What does this mean for you?

You need to spread safety information.

For example, here’s a safety tip I shared with neighbors:

“Always assume the other driver doesn’t see you, especially at intersections.”

In about two weeks, this simple advice helped prevent:

• 3 potential T-bone collisions
• 2 pedestrian near-misses
• 1 motorcycle crash

Try getting that kind of impact from just staying silent 🙂

Pro tip: Social media isn’t the only place you should share safety tips. Talk to family members, discuss risks with coworkers, and engage your neighbors. The key to preventing intersection crashes? Include strong reasons why safety matters to everyone.

10. Know Your Legal Rights After an Intersection Crash

People need to understand their legal options.

(No surprise there.)

But what might surprise you is: You can protect your legal rights immediately after an intersection crash.

How?

Follow our post-crash legal checklist.

Here’s an example of what we recommend to every client:

1. Call 911 immediately (even for minor crashes)
2. Document everything with photos and notes
3. Get witness contact information
4. Seek medical attention (injuries often appear later)
5. Contact experienced attorneys before talking to insurance companies

See how that works?

Every step protects your legal position while you focus on recovery.

It gets better:

You can get a free consultation to understand your rights:

Contact our experienced Colorado Springs personal injury attorneys

(And those consultations will help you understand your options and potential compensation.)

Now:

Since 1995, we’ve handled these cases successfully. But if you have questions about your specific situation, you should get professional legal advice immediately.

11. Add “Predictive Safety” to Your Driving

In my experience, intersection crashes largely succeed or fail based on one factor:

Whether or not the driver uses predictive safety techniques.

What is predictive safety?

It’s anticipating dangerous situations before they develop.

A lot of these principles were first discovered by traffic safety researchers and professional driving instructors.

And they’ve proven in real-world conditions what experienced drivers learned through close calls:

When you include predictive safety in your driving, you’re significantly less likely to be involved in intersection crashes.

For example:

One of the most powerful predictive techniques is pattern recognition.

Pattern recognition is the idea that intersection crashes follow predictable sequences.

And this technique is a large part of the reason that professional drivers have much lower crash rates.

Specifically, they recognize warning signs like:

• Cars approaching intersections too fast
• Drivers who appear distracted or impaired
• Vehicles positioned incorrectly in lanes
• Traffic signal timing that creates confusion

Every time you spot these patterns and adjust accordingly, you boost your safety significantly.

So you avoid crashes… again and again.

All because you strategically added pattern recognition into your driving routine.

Very cool.

12. Understand Colorado’s Intersection Laws

Let’s face it:

Intersection laws are getting MORE complex.

Fortunately, there’s a way to stay informed:

Understanding your legal obligations.

Here’s how it works:

First, Colorado follows comparative negligence rules for intersection crashes.

Here’s a real-life example:

If you’re found 20% at fault for an intersection crash, your compensation is reduced by 20%.

Next, understand that Colorado requires drivers to:

• Come to complete stops at red lights
• Yield right-of-way according to traffic signals
• Exercise reasonable care for pedestrians and cyclists
• Maintain proper following distances
• Drive at safe speeds for conditions

Finally, know your insurance requirements.

And you’ll probably find that understanding these laws helps you make better decisions and avoid legal complications.

Nice.

13. The Power of Long-Term Safety Planning

A while back, Colorado Springs developed a full-scale Safety Action Plan.

Why?

City planners wanted to see which safety strategies worked best long-term.

And they found that thorough approaches get dramatically better results than piecemeal fixes.

In fact, as you can see in their planning documents, cities with detailed safety plans reduce intersection fatalities by an average of 35% over five years.

I’ve noticed the same thing in legal practice.

For example, here’s how we approach intersection crash cases (a complete legal strategy):

1. Immediate response (within 24 hours of the crash)
2. Evidence preservation (before it disappears or gets destroyed)
3. Expert consultation (accident reconstruction, medical evaluation)
4. Insurance negotiation (based on complete documentation)
5. Trial preparation (ready to go to court if necessary)

This complete approach is over 4,000 hours of combined legal experience.

And the simple fact that our approach is thorough is a big reason why we’ve recovered millions for our clients.

(And those recoveries have helped families rebuild their lives after devastating intersection crashes.)

14. Create an Emergency Response Plan

If you want to protect yourself and your family, emergency preparedness HAS to be on your radar.

Why?

Intersection crashes happen in seconds, but the response determines the outcome.

In fact, proper emergency response is one of my top recommendations for every Colorado Springs driver.

That said:

Knowing what to do immediately after a crash is CRITICAL.

But it doesn’t have to be complicated.

That’s why I’m going to give you two resources that will help you respond effectively.

Resource #1: Our Post-Crash Legal Checklist

This checklist shows you EVERYTHING you need to do in the first hour after an intersection crash.

It covers evidence preservation, medical attention, and legal protection.

Resource #2: Emergency Contact Information

Keep our contact information in your phone: (719) 389-0400

This will give you immediate access to experienced legal guidance when you need it most.

15. Publish Your Safety Success Stories

Is there a formula for creating intersection safety awareness that spreads?

Nope! Or else everyone would do it 🙂

That said, there ARE three things you can do to increase the odds that your safety message will make a real difference.

1. Use Real Examples

These examples can be from your own experience, local news, or traffic safety reports.

The type of example doesn’t matter all that much. The important thing is that you use concrete situations in your safety discussions.

Why?

Real examples tend to get more attention and create lasting behavioral changes, according to safety researchers.

2. Ensure Your Message Has High “Relevance”

This simply means your safety message applies directly to your audience’s daily experience.

Maybe you show people how to handle their specific commute safely.

Or you teach them to handle the intersections they use most frequently.

Either way, research shows that highly relevant safety messages have a much higher chance of changing behavior.

3. Give Your Message an Initial “Share” to Get Going

For example, one safety advocate got over 500 people to change their intersection driving habits in one month (thanks to a safety tip that went viral on social media):

And it wouldn’t have happened if she didn’t share her message on multiple platforms first… which led to hundreds of people seeing it within hours.

Grow Your Safety Knowledge and Protect Your Legal Rights

I hope this post showed you the real intersection safety trends in Colorado Springs using current data and proven strategies.

Which safety technique will you try first?

Are you going to implement defensive intersection navigation or focus on night driving improvements?

Or maybe you’re going to create a complete emergency response plan.

Either way, you’ll want to make sure your legal rights are protected if the worst happens.

Contact McCormick & Murphy P.C. for experienced intersection crash representation that gets results.