Colorado DOT Braces for the 100 Deadliest Days — But What About Truckers?

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Introduction – The Scariest Season on the Road Is Here

The “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” isn’t just some dramatic headline — it’s a cold, hard fact backed by years of accident data. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, highway fatalities spike across the U.S., and Colorado’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) isn’t taking it lightly.

They’ve just announced new efforts to keep roads safer during these chaotic months. More patrols. More outreach. More digital alerts. And while all of that sounds good, here’s the kicker: most of the safety talk leaves out the folks actually living on the road — truckers.

So we’re gonna break this down — not just what CDOT is doing, but what it really means for drivers grinding gears from Denver to Durango and beyond.

Key Points – What the DOT’s Doing (And What They’re Not)

CDOT’s campaign aims to protect lives, but it’s mostly focused on the **general public** — especially teen drivers. Here’s the official game plan:
👮 More Patrols – State troopers will have an increased presence, especially on highways and in work zones. They’ll be targeting speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and DUIs. Translation? Expect more flashing lights in your rearview.

🎓 Teen Driver Awareness – A lot of crashes involve young, inexperienced drivers during the summer. CDOT’s rolling out ad campaigns, educational efforts, and high school outreach to push road safety messages. Whether they listen... well, that’s another story.

🚧 Work Zone Crackdowns – You already know summer = construction season. CDOT is warning of stricter enforcement in these areas. Fines will spike, and one bad move in a cone zone could wreck your week.

📢 Signage and Alerts – Digital message boards will be updated more often to provide real-time info. The idea is to warn about crashes, congestion, and road work — but those signs won’t always catch what’s happening right now in front of your hood.

Multiple Perspectives – What the Headlines Ignore

This campaign is designed with car drivers in mind. That’s fair — most of the problem **is** car traffic. But it creates this invisible pressure on truckers to be superheroes on the road without any real backup. Let’s keep it real:
Truckers already drive defensively — we don’t have a choice. We’re trained to expect the unexpected.

Most accidents in this time frame involve passenger vehicles, not semis. But when the media covers a pileup, the big rig gets all the attention (and blame).

More enforcement isn’t always the answer. Some drivers say it just leads to nitpicky tickets instead of real education.

Truckers are also vulnerable. Long shifts, tight delivery windows, and unsafe 4-wheelers weaving through traffic make these months mentally exhausting for CDL holders.

Industry Response – Truckers Ain’t New to This Game

The truth is, most truckers already know how dangerous summer driving can be. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t adapting:
🚛 Fleets Are Sending Reminders – Some companies are rolling out internal training refreshers or reminders about summer hazards — especially in regions with high tourist traffic.

🧭 Route Planning Is Changing – Owner-operators are tweaking their routes to avoid choke points, construction hotspots, and major tourist destinations like national parks during weekends.

💰 Bonuses for Safe Driving – Some forward-thinking carriers are offering incentives for clean safety records through the summer. It ain’t much, but it’s a nod to the real risk drivers take daily.

👥 Peer Coaching – A few trucking communities online are also stepping up — with drivers mentoring rookies on how to handle the madness of vacation-season roads.

Bottom Line – Truckers Know These Roads Are Wild in Summer

CDOT’s efforts are a good start, but the responsibility still falls on the ones behind the wheel. If you're a trucker, you already know these are the months when the highways turn into a circus. Your 80,000-pound rig becomes a magnet for risky drivers cutting lanes, slamming brakes, or filming TikToks while merging.
So here’s your reminder:

Stay sharp.

Don’t let your guard down — even at rest stops.

And don’t assume the car ahead knows what it’s doing (because it probably doesn’t).

Let CDOT play traffic cop — you be the professional out there.

Call to Action

If you’re new to the game or feeling the stress of summer miles creeping up, don’t wait until burnout takes over.
👉 For survival tips, real stories, and a truckload of wisdom: LifeAsATrucker.com
👉 Want to set yourself up to retire from trucking on your own terms? Visit RetireFromTrucking.com — while you're still healthy and in control.

Stay safe. Stay smart. And remember — you’re the most trained person on that highway. Act like it. 💪