Colorado DOT Highlights Traffic Laws Drivers Commonly Overlook

The Colorado Department of Transportation has released a new video series explaining key traffic laws, including hands-free driving, move over requirements, chain laws, and roundabout rules.

The Colorado Department of Transportation is encouraging motorists to brush up on several state traffic laws through a new public education campaign covering distracted driving, winter travel, lane use, and sharing the road with other highway users.

While many of the laws are already in effect, transportation officials say confusion about the rules continues to contribute to crashes and unsafe driving behavior.

Distracted Driving Remains a Priority

Colorado’s hands-free law continues to be one of the campaign’s primary messages. Since 2024, drivers have been prohibited from holding a cellphone or other electronic device while operating a vehicle. Hands-free accessories and dashboard-mounted devices remain legal, allowing motorists to make calls or use navigation without handling the device.

The campaign also reminds drivers that Colorado’s expressed consent law requires motorists suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol to submit to a breath or blood test. Refusing the test can result in the loss of driving privileges.

Laws That Affect Commercial Drivers

Several reminders included in the campaign are particularly relevant for truck drivers. Colorado’s traction and chain requirements remain in effect during winter weather events to improve highway safety and reduce closures. Commercial vehicles traveling through designated mountain corridors must meet those requirements whenever they are activated.

The department is likewise reminding motorists to keep right unless actively passing another vehicle and to comply with Colorado’s Move Over law when approaching stopped vehicles displaying hazard lights. If changing lanes cannot be done safely, drivers are required to slow to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

Sharing the Road

Another focus of the campaign is the interaction between passenger vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and large commercial vehicles.

Colorado law requires motorists to leave at least three feet when passing bicyclists and to yield to pedestrians using marked crosswalks. Drivers are also reminded that cyclists may treat stop signs as yield signs when an intersection is clear, although they must still stop for red traffic signals.

For truck drivers, CDOT notes that roundabouts require additional awareness from surrounding traffic. Because buses and commercial trucks often need extra room to complete a turn safely, other motorists should avoid attempting to drive alongside them while they are navigating the intersection.

CDOT has made the educational materials available through its YouTube channel as part of its ongoing effort to improve awareness of Colorado traffic laws.