When is the most dangerous time of day to drive in Colorado? What about in Grand Junction? Recent crash data from the Colorado Department of Transportation reveals clear patterns about when drivers face the greatest risk.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the riskiest hours to be on the road in Colorado, and what exactly “dangerous” really means, and show how knowing the timing of when most crashes happen can help keep you safer behind the wheel.
Colorado’s Most Dangerous Hours
By dangerous crash, we mean an accident that results in a severe injury or death. No matter which side of the state, mid-to-late afternoons are the most dangerous hours to drive in Colorado.
- Western Slope: In Grand Junction, rush hour looks different than on Colfax Avenue in Denver. We may not have I-25 traffic, but U.S. 50 in Grand Junction, I-70 in Glenwood Canyon, and Highway 550 in Montrose can all create the same crash danger zone between 3 & 6 p.m. Early shadows in the mountains can make even simple trips surprisingly risky.
- Denver Metro: Numbers from the Front Range are a bit more dramatic. According to McQuaid Injury Law, Denver’s highest crash totals occur during the 4 p.m. hour. Thursdays stand out as the city’s most dangerous day of the week. By comparison, data from the city of Boulder shows most accidents occur between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., making the entire afternoon seem like a risky time to travel.
- Nights and Weekends: Following the afternoon drive, both sides of the state see a spike in crashes between 7 and 9 a.m. The National Safety Council says late evening accidents in Colorado line up with national averages. Safe Roads USA says peak crash hours on the weekend occur between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Why These Hours Are Especially Dangerous
Add it all up, and it’s clear which time of day you are most likely to experience a crash in Colorado. Heavy traffic always increases your odds of a crash, from stop-and-go stretches on U.S. 50 through Grand Junction or long waits behind trucks on Highway 550.
Late afternoon driving in Western Colorado means the sun is starting to hide behind the plateau, and shadows make it harder to see. For drivers on both sides of the state, awareness of peak crash hours is a reminder to take it slow, stay alert, and stay sharp on mountain passes and quiet two-lane roads.
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