Three drivers were pulled over Feb. 6 for driving over the speed limit and making an illegal pass on a blind, solid double-yellow line on Wolf Creek Pass.
According to a Thursday news release from the Colorado State Patrol, a state trooper saw the three vehicles make the illegal pass while driving westbound over the pass around 5:15 p.m. The trooper was able to catch up to the lead car, pull it over and stop the other two vehicles, issuing each a citation carrying with it a $111 fine and a four-point strike on their licenses.
The stops were a highlighted incident of proactive speeding enforcement for the Colorado State Patrol’s three-month Stop Speeding campaign. According to agency spokesman Gabriel Moletrer, the campaign is meant to highlight the dangers of speeding and aggressive driving.
“When you are exceeding posted speed limits, you’re not just putting yourself in danger, you’re putting anyone that may be in the vehicle with you and anyone else that might also be on the road doing the legal speed limit in danger,” he said. “Speeding puts that danger not only onto yourself, but others as well.”
According to the release, aggressive driving includes any decisions made by a driver, like excessive speed, unsafe passing, following too closely, or other risky behaviors that can increase the likelihood of a serious crash.
“Those dangers are even greater on steep, winding mountain highways, where limited sight distance, sharp curves and changing road conditions leave little margin for error,” the release said.
Moletrer said aggressive driving is especially risky in adverse weather, when the ability to stop is virtually nonexistent. That is, at least in part, why speed limits exist.
“Going at accelerated speeds with a road that doesn’t have any traction on it due to there being snow, ice or even standing water that can cause hydroplaning,” he said. “We want to make sure that people are going those speed limits to ensure that they're staying safe and they’re able to make it to their destination safely.”
Obeying the speed limit, even on flat, straight highways, can increase safety for every driver on the road. It can also save drivers money, he said.
“Speeding can hurt your pocketbook,” Moletrer said. “(It can save money) by not burning more fuel, depending on what type of vehicle you have in the fuel economy that it uses. Also, by not speeding, you’re making sure that you’re not being pulled over by law enforcement.”
He said fines can range from $30 for driving 1 to 4 mph over, $70 for 5 to 9 mph over, $135 for 10 to 19 mph over, and $200 when driving 20 to 24 mph over. Anything above 24 mph over can result in a court date, with additional costly fines.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
