Colorado is set to launch photo radar cameras on highways this spring to help reduce crashes and fatalities on the roads. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will begin deploying speed cameras in several construction zones starting in April. While the specific locations have not been announced, CDOT plans to expand this program to other high-risk areas where speeding causes accidents. The program aims to gradually evolve, with possible future expansions into school zones and other designated corridors based on data.
The move comes as part of CDOT’s effort to improve safety, even though traffic accidents have been decreasing. Statewide crashes dropped by 22% from 122,356 in 2018 to 95,657 in 2024. Traffic fatalities have also decreased, with 684 reported in 2024, down from a record high of 764 in 2022. Colorado State Patrol Chief Col. Matthew Packard noted that speed enforcement and safer vehicles have contributed to the reduction, and added that speed cameras will further help to lower crash numbers.
Currently, several Colorado cities such as Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver already use photo radar cameras to enforce speed limits in certain areas like school zones and neighborhoods. In 2023, lawmakers amended state law to allow speed camera enforcement in any area designated as a “speed corridor” based on collected data. This change empowers CDOT and Colorado State Patrol to deploy automated enforcement on state highways as well.
Studies show that speed cameras are effective at reducing collisions, and many U.S. courts have upheld the constitutionality of such systems. With new road safety laws in place, such as a ban on cellphone use while driving, CDOT aims to further reduce traffic fatalities, targeting fewer than 600 deaths in 2025. The state has also seen a concerning rise in fatalities involving motorcycles and impaired drivers.
The first wave of speed cameras will be placed in construction zones, where speeding-related crashes have decreased, but fatalities have risen. Drivers caught speeding in these areas will initially receive warnings. Repeat offenders will face fines starting at $45, similar to violations in express lanes. CDOT’s future surveillance systems on highways like I-70, I-25, and C-470 may also be expanded to enforce speed limits.
