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Courteous
Driving Behaviors.
Recently I was in my personal vehicle driving on Hwy 160 west of the Four
Corners Monument when an on coming Dodge pick up truck forced my vehicle and
the vehicle in front of me off the right shoulder of the road in order to
avoid a head on accident. Although it happened very quickly I was pleased
that no body was hurt yet I was very frustrated by the inconsiderate and
dangerous actions of the driver in the pickup truck. I attempted to call in
a traffic complaint but I was prevented from doing so due to no cell
service.
This close call in conjunction with school letting out for the approaching
summer is when we usually see an increase in traffic upon the roadways and
it is a good reason to discuss courteous driving behaviors.
One of the main reasons that we see an increase in traffic violations in the
summer is due to the surge in traffic and the impatience and risks that
drivers are sometimes willing to take when driving from point A to point B.
As a full service Sheriff’s Office we respond to all calls for service
including criminal and traffic calls, with a priority placed upon criminal
calls. The call volume can be taxing to staff but it is important that we do
our share of traffic enforcement in order to make the roadways safe for all
users. The deputies have discretion when dealing with traffic violators.
This means that an offending driver may end up with a verbal warning or a
citation, based upon the severity of the infraction, their previous driving
history and their willingness to correct their driving behavior(s).
There are 2,204 sections that deal with vehicle and traffic regulations in
Colorado and it is impossible to be familiar with each and every one of
these but the three I have written about below seem to occur on a regular
basis.
When you are driving down a county or state road and come upon a vehicle
stopped in front of you that is making a left hand turn, remember that you
cannot pass on the right hand side if doing so causes you to “drive off the
pavement or main travelled portion of the roadway” as per Colorado Revised
Statute (CRS) 42-4-1004 (2). The reason for this is that when you pass a
stationary vehicle on the right you may not see another vehicle that is
driving towards you and planning to turn left. You are blocked from this
vehicles view by the stationary vehicle waiting to turn left. Over the years
we have had a number of these accidents at uncontrolled intersections,
county wide.
Another traffic concern is following too closely as deemed under CRS
42-4-1008 “The driver ….shall not follow another vehicle more closely than
is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles
and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway”. When you are
following too closely it is very easy for you to get caught up in a
situation ahead of you that you cannot see and adjust for, such as an animal
running across the road in front of the vehicle ahead of you or a vehicle
stopped ahead waiting to turn as described above.
Also motorists should not pass in an unsafe manner; CRS 42-4-1005 discusses
in detail the limitations on overtaking another vehicle. This is where
impatience on two lane roads can have the direst of consequences because if
the passing vehicle cannot get back into the correct lane in a safe and
timely fashion, the result of a head on collision can be devastating for
everyone.
My main reason for reminding you of these laws is that I hope it triggers a
conscious decision that will stay fresh in your memory next time you get
behind the wheel of your vehicle and by thinking about the consequences it
may help in averting an accident which could injure or kill you, or someone
else.
If you observe any person who is driving in an unsafe manner please called
dispatch at 565-8441 and an attempt will be made to contact that driver. If
the officer does not observe the traffic infraction then you as the
complainant will be asked if you are willing to sign a complaint against
that driver. The reason for this is that the court will need an eye witness
to the infraction if the driver pleads not guilty in court.
Again please be considerate of your fellow driver on the road and if there
is heavy traffic or bad weather conditions please slow down and stay safe
and enjoy your drive as part of your vacation or trip.
Thank you
Sheriff Gerald Wallace
Contact Information
To reach the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office please respond to the information below. If you have an emergency situation, please call 911 for help.
- Telephone
- 970-565-8452
- FAX
- Jail - 970-565-4348
- Admin - 970-565-3731
- Postal address
- 730 E Driscoll Street
- Cortez, CO 81321
- Electronic mail
- General Information: General
Account
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