14-06-2025
Joint agency surge operation cracking down on dangerous driving
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — On Friday, multiple agencies joined together to conduct a surge operation to crack down on dangerous driving.
WesternSlopeNow was allowed to ride-along with Officer Vaughn Soderquist, a member of the force for 12 1/2 years.
Soderquist says a lot of the dangerous driving behaviors officers see on patrol are speeding.
'Number one is speed,' says Soderquist. 'People [are] not adhering to the speed limits. Another big problem that we have, or that is reported to us in complaints, is people running red lights and the aggressive driving behavior like quickly changing lanes or speeding around people.'
Over the past five years, troopers in Mesa County investigated 83 crashes in June. Last year, seven of those included serious injuries.
The rise of dangerous driving can be attributed to an increase in people on the roads during the summer season. Captain Matt Ozanic with Colorado State Patrol said, 'there's more people on the road, there's more travelers. People going camping or going to festivals.'
Recently, the Colorado Department of Transportation released a report on another dangerous driving behavior; distracted driving.
The passage of the hands-free law, states as of January 1, 2025, Colorado drivers must not hold a cell phone or other mobile device while driving.
'The intent of this law is to reduce the number of crashes that involve inattentive or distracted drivers,' says Regional Communications Manager for the CDOT NW region Chuck Marsh.
Marsh says the law has made a difference.
'In the first five months, preliminary data is showing that because of this law,' says Marsh, 'we're looking at inattentive driving crashes being down about 19%.'
Helping combat all of these dangerous driving behaviors are these surge operations that Ozanic says have been taking place since late 2022 and have proven to be very effective.
Remember, if you observe a dangerous driver on the roads, report their actions to the Colorado State Patrol by dialing *277.
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