Colorado State Patrol examines theory that fatal crashes rise after daylight savings
This coming Sunday, March 8, Colorado will “spring forward” one hour for daylight savings time, and we will all lose an hour of sleep. While the time change can throw off schedules for appointments or events, researchers have suggested that the switch can also increase fatal crashes each year.
“A few years ago The University of Colorado Boulder published a study that linked an increase in deadly crashes to daylight savings,” explained Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Troopers see hundreds of crashes each year caused by falling asleep or being drowsy behind the wheel. Drivers shouldn’t underestimate the value of a good night’s sleep.”
In 2025, the Colorado State Patrol investigated 755 crashes involving fatigue, with 202 people injured and 13 people killed. These crashes increased 6.7% over 2024.
Focusing on the impacts of Daylight Saving Time, the Colorado State Patrol decided to take a closer look at crashes investigated by troopers. The Patrol pulled 10 years of crash data for the workweek (M-F) before and after Daylight Saving Time. The data table below shows that the ten-year tally of fatal crashes before DST and after DST increases by 25.9%.
Only two years, 2020 and 2022, had higher fatal crash counts the week before DST than the week after. The year 2020 is easy to understand because COVID-19 drove travel down at exactly that time. In 2019 and 2021, the weeks before and after DST had equal fatal crash counts. The other six years all showed an increase in fatal crashes the week after DST.
Blog
-
Driving Tired After the Time Change
-
Six Corridor teams make regional basketball this weekend; game times finalized
Both boys and girls teams from Strasburg and Byers and the girls from Bennett and Deer Trail all qualified for this weekend’s regional round of the state basketball postseason. In all cases, games start on Friday with winners advancing to regional championship games on Saturday.
STRASBURG
The Indian boys are the top seed in the 3A boys tournament and host Salida at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at Mundell Gymnasium. Friday’s other game at Strasburg is No. 16 Lotus School for Excellence and 17th-seeded Highland at approximately 7:30 p.m. The winners will play each other at 1 p.m. Saturday for the regional title.
The Lady Indians are the 24th seed in 3A girls and travel to Roaring Fork (Carbondale) for Region 8 play. The red-and-black will play No. 9 Thomas MacLaren School at 3 p.m. on Friday and, with a win, would advance to play either the eighth-seeded host school or No. 25 Manual.
BYERS
The No. 6 Bulldog boys are a host site in 2A boys and will face off with No. 27 Fowler at 4:30 p.m. Friday. The other game that night is between No. 11 Swallows Charter Academy and 22nd-seeded Union Colony Prep. The regional title game between the two winners is slated for 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
The 16th-seeded Lady Bulldogs make a trip to Merino where they will play No. 17 Center at 12 p.m. The other game is against the top-seeded host school and. No.32 Custer County at approximately 3:30 p.m. The regional championship game is set for 1 p.m.
DEER TRAIL
For the first time since the 2013-14 season, the Lady Eagles made the 1A postseason. Deer Trail plays at McClave against the top-seeded Cardinals at approximately 12:30 p.m. Friday’s other first-round game is between No. 16 Granada and 17th-seeded Kim/Branson at 11 a.m. The regional title game is slated for 11 a.m.
BENNETT
The No. 15 Lady Tigers play at 2:30 p.m. against No. 18 Jefferson Academy at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at Timnath. The second-seeded host school plays No. 31 Fort Morgan on Friday. The two winners will face off in the 4A Region 2 finals at 11 a.m. Saturday.
While the quarterfinal round of the Great Eight for 1A, 2A and 3A is set for March 12, the same round of play for 4A will take place on March 11. The 1A state tournament is at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley; 2A at Moby Gym on the campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins; 3A at Hancock Gymnasium at University of Denver; and 4A at the Denver Coliseum.
-
Arapahoe County Seeks Nominations For Youth Who Have Overcome Challenges
The 2026 Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards provide scholarships to area students
Arapahoe County Seeks Nominations for 2026 Youth Scholarship Awards
Arapahoe County commissioners are now accepting nominations for the 2026 Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards, scholarships designed to recognize and support area teenagers who have demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming life’s obstacles.
Nomination Deadline and Process
Nominations are open until March 2, 2026 and can be submitted online at Arapahoe County Grant Nominations.
Award Details
These scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors who have faced and overcome significant adversity and want to pursue post-secondary education at vocational schools, community colleges, or four-year universities. Both the scholarship amounts and the total number of awards vary annually based on available funding.
Eligibility and Requirements
Who Can Nominate: Teachers, counselors, or school administrators who are not related to the student may submit nominations.
What’s Required: Nominators must provide:
- A detailed explanation of why the student deserves consideration
- Specific examples of the student’s community contributions
- Documentation of challenges the student has overcome
- A 3-paragraph essay written by the student addressing:
- Lessons learned from overcoming personal challenges
- Future educational and career plans
- Goals and aspirations for the years ahead
Selection Process
A joint committee of county commissioners and municipal mayors reviews all applications. Awards are determined based on three key criteria:
- The student’s determination to rise above adversity
- Their commitment to creating positive change in their environment
- Demonstrated contributions and service to their community and family
For more information or to submit a nomination, visit the youth awards page on the Arapahoe County website.
-
Don’t “Move Too Fast” This Valentine’s Weekend
Driving aggressively freaks people out
(COLO) – Just like declaring love is considered “pushy” on a first date, driving like a cast member from Fast & Furious can be a relationship red flag. Last year, Colorado State troopers found that aggressive driving was among the three leading causes of crashes across the State over Valentine’s weekend.
Isolating just Friday and Saturday of Valentine’s weekend 2025, troopers investigated 321 crashes. The top three causal factors for those crashes were:
- Speeding (132) – a form of aggressive driving
- Lane Violations (63)
- Following too Closely (30) – a form of aggressive driving
“Moving too fast can make you crash and burn, whether in a relationship or driving down the road,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Over fifty percent of these crashes were due to an aggressive driving behavior. That’s not an attractive look.”
Saturday saw approximately 33% more crashes than Friday, even though this isn’t a traditional workday for most people. When comparing this holiday weekend with crashes troopers investigated throughout 2025, speeding and following too closely increased dramatically over the Valentine’s Day weekend. For all of 2025, Speeding was the fourth most common crash causal factor, and following too closely was the fifth.
“Don’t put yourself in a position where you need to rush this weekend; plan ahead,” stated Col. Packard. “If you are running late, pull over to a safe spot and call your date. Then your date can call to hold that reservation.” How your date handles a minor “speed bump” is an indicator of their patience and long-term potential anyway. Happy Valentine’s Day! -
Planned Department of Revenue Outage to Impact Business Registration, Online Voter Registration over Presidents Day Weekend
The Colorado Department of Revenue’s (CDOR) planned upgrade to driver license and motor vehicle technology systems over Presidents Day weekend will impact some Colorado Department of State (CDOS) platforms. The Colorado Department of Revenue upgrade will cause the following impacts to CDOS systems beginning Friday, February 13, 2026 at 7 p.m. CDOR expects the outage to conclude the morning of Tuesday, February 17.
- BUSINESS FILING: Anyone filing a business document and listing an individual as a registered agent will be unable to do so. Some filers will still be able to select an entity as a registered agent, and may choose to list the entity they are filing for as the registered agent in certain filings pursuant to Colorado law.
- VOTERS: Individuals registering to vote for the first time using Online Voter Registration (OLVR) and using their social security number for verification will be unable to do so. Individuals will still be able to register using a Colorado Driver’s License Number.
CDOS recommends that all Coloradans who had planned to access these systems over Presidents Day weekend do so before Friday, February 13 at 7 p.m. For more information regarding the upgrade and its impact on services, please visit dmv.colorado.gov/mydmv.
-
ArapCo Safety Plan
Arapahoe County is updating its Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP) to make travel safer for everyone who lives, works, or drives in unincorporated communities—and your input will help shape the final plan.
The CSAP identifies where safety improvements are most needed across the County’s transportation network and helps guide future investments that directly affect how you get around.
Whether you walk, bike, roll, ride transit, or drive, your perspective matters. The County’s final comment period begins Feb. 9, and you can share feedback online at www.arapahoeco.gov/safetyplan through March 2. This is your chance to weigh in on recommended safety strategies, projects, and priorities.
You can also learn more and share feedback in person at two meetings during the second week of February:
- Transit Oriented Communities Open House – Federal Area Enclave – 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Thersa Dando Meeting Room at the Sheridan Library, 3425 W. Oxford Ave., in Denver.
- Eastern Arapahoe County CSAP Open House – 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 12 at Kelver Library, 585 S Main Street, in Byers.
Earlier this year, you helped identify locations where travel feels unsafe. The project team is now analyzing crash data and roadway conditions to pinpoint high-risk areas and focus on strategies that reduce serious injuries and save lives.
The updated plan follows the Safe System Approach, which emphasizes designing streets and transportation systems that anticipate human error and reduce the severity of crashes when they occur.
To update the plan, County staff are working with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Colorado State Patrol and the Denver Regional Council of Governments.
To learn more about the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and to share additional feedback starting Feb. 9, visit www.arapahoeco.gov/safetyplan.
Submit questions to Project Manager Steven Buckley at or call 720-874-6516.
-
Beef Quality Assurance Credits Offered at Calving and Calf Care Clinic
Beef producers can earn continuing education credits for Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification if they
attend the Calving and Calf Care Clinic being hosted by Colorado State University (CSU) Extension on February 7, 2026, at the Kit Carson County Fairgrounds in Burlington, Colorado. This is a new option for producers to recertify for BQA. Producers must earn at least three BQA continuing education credits to recertify and two can be earned during the Calving and Calf Care Clinic.
Topics to be covered during the program will include dystocia management, neonatal calf health, utilizing epidurals, handling colostrum and stressed calves. Participants will be engaged in hands on activities during this event using calving simulators. The program will start at 9:00 am and end at 3:00 pm. Registration can be completed online at https://goldenplains.extension.colostate.edu/programs/agriculture/livestock-production/. For more information, please contact Extension Specialist Scott Stinnett at the Kit Carson County Extension Office, 719-346-5571.
-
CDHS Encourages Coloradans to Apply for the State’s Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
National Energy Assistance Day is Feb. 2
DENVER (Jan. 29, 2026) — In advance of National Energy Assistance Day on Feb. 2, the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) reminds all Colorado residents that they may be eligible for energy assistance through the state’s Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). Energy costs are expected to rise more than three times the rate of inflation this winter. Recent data shows that 35 percent of Colorado households reduced spending on basic necessities at least one month in the last year to pay an energy bill. LEAP, a statewide program, helps eligible individuals and families pay winter home heating costs by making a one-time payment directly to the utility company on behalf of each LEAP-eligible household, leaving them more money to spend on other essentials like groceries, medicine and rent. To date, more than 57,000 Coloradans have received between $200 to $1,000 in energy assistance this season. Recipients may also be eligible to receive furnace repair and replacement in heat-related emergencies and weatherization services, pending the results of a home energy audit. LEAP will accept applications through April 30.
“No one should go without heat this winter, and we encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible for LEAP to apply and take advantage of LEAP’s many benefits,” says Maria Hopps, LEAP interim supervisor and program lead. “LEAP can lessen some of the burdens that come during the colder months.”
To qualify for LEAP, Coloradans may have an income up to 60 percent of the state median income, equating to a household income of less than $83,256 a year for a family of four. Additionally, LEAP recipients must pay home heating costs directly to a utility company or landlord as part of their rent and have at least one U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident of the U.S. living in the household.
To access the LEAP application, visit cdhs.colorado.com/leap. Online applications are processed through the CO PEAK system. You can also call the HEAT HELP line at 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435) to receive an application via mail or email or visit your local county Department of Human Services office to pick up or drop off an application.
-
Adams County to Host Telephone Town Hall on Jan. 29
Adams County residents are invited to join a live Telephone Town Hall with the Adams County Board of Commissioners (BoCC) on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 6–7:30 p.m.
The Telephone Town Hall will provide an opportunity for community members to hear directly from county commissioners about county funding, federal issues, social programs, and other community concerns. The event is designed to make participation easy and accessible, allowing residents to join the conversation from the convenience of their phone.
“When there’s a lot at stake, our community deserves real answers,” said Julie Duran Mullica, Chair of the BoCC. “This Telephone Town Hall is an important way for us to connect directly with residents, listen to their concerns, and share information about the issues impacting Adams County.”
To guarantee residents receive a call, they must register in advance to participate. Registration closes at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29. Once registered, participants will receive a call at the start of the event with instructions on how to join the discussion and submit questions live.
-
Colorado National Guard rescue aircraft to fly over playoff game in Denver Sunday
The Colorado Army National Guard 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion 135th Regiment will showcase military rescue aircraft with a flyover of Invesco Field at Mile High, in Denver, during the opening ceremonies of the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots conference championship playoff game Jan. 25, 2026.
The U.S. Military and National Football League have a longstanding relationship of support for patriotism and recruiting efforts. This year is especially notable as it marks 250 years of our nation’s independence and Colorado’s 150 years as a state.
“Colorado Army National Guard Aviation is honored to serve the citizens of Colorado and values its partnership with the Denver Broncos,” U.S. Army Lt. Col. Nicholas Tucker, state Army aviation officer, said. “This flyover will feature Soldiers and aircraft who have executed critical search and rescue operations within the state and were instrumental in combating Colorado wildfires. This flight is dedicated to our civilian partners within the Colorado Hoist Rescue Team, whose collaboration is indispensable for the successful execution of these complex and technical Search and Rescue missions within the state.”
The flyover will feature all three of the CONG’s rotary wing platforms including the CH-47 Chinook, UH-60 Black Hawk, and UH-72 Lakota Helicopters.
Based at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, CONG’s 2-135 GSAB consists of more than 300 Soldiers who serve our nation worldwide and protect Coloradans.
In 2025 the unit helped fight the Elk and Lee wildfires near Meeker, Colorado, with CH-47s. Annually, the unit conducts around 30 SAR missions in the Colorado mountains primarily using the UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 Bravo Lakota, saving lives across the state as part of the Colorado Hoist Rescue Team. The CHRT encompasses ground rescuers who work alongside aircrew members from the COARNG. The aircrew members and ground SAR teams consistently answer the call to conduct life-saving hoist rescue missions at high altitude.
For 166 years, the CONG has served our nation in wartime and as the first military responders in support of civil authorities during state emergencies. The CONG’s 5,500 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen are Always Ready, Always There.
