Colorado Matters Highlights Rising Motorcycle Fatalities

Laurie Montoya of BikerDown and Colorado Highway Patrol Discuss Safety, Awareness, and Enforcement

By: Motorcycle Rider News

Denver, CO — October 14, 2025 — Colorado Public Radio’s flagship segment, Colorado Matters, recently featured a compelling and candid discussion between Laurie Montoya, President and Founder of BikerDown, and Sergeant Ivan Alvarado of the Colorado Highway Patrol (CHP). The conversation shed light on the alarming increase in motorcycle crashes and fatalities across Colorado — and what both the riding community and law enforcement can do to reverse the trend.  To listen to the segment click here.

Montoya, whose organization BikerDown has long supported injured motorcycle riders and their families, spoke passionately about the human cost behind the statistics.

“These aren’t just numbers — these are husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters,” Montoya said. “Every time there’s a fatality, it ripples through an entire community of motorcycle riders. We have to bring the conversation back to awareness, visibility, and respect for all who share the road.”

According to the Colorado Highway Patrol, motorcycle-related fatalities have increased more than 20% over the past year, marking one of the most dangerous riding seasons in recent memory. Contributing factors include distracted driving, excessive speed, and impaired operation — both by drivers and some motorcycle riders.

Sgt. Alvarado emphasized that while enforcement remains a crucial tool, public education and community partnerships are key to prevention.

“Our troopers see the aftermath of these crashes every day,” Alvarado said. “We need more drivers looking twice for motorcycles and more motorcycle riders committing to protective gear, training, and sober riding.”

Distracted Driving Enforcement and Safety Gaps

Montoya also expressed deep concern over the growing issue of distracted driving and the lack of consistent enforcement of Colorado’s existing laws. She stated that stronger prevention could be achieved if the Colorado Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies more actively cited drivers who use cell phones or text while driving.

Under current Colorado law, texting while driving and the use of handheld mobile devices while operating a vehicle are prohibited. These laws were passed after years of advocacy from organizations like CORD (Colorado Organizations for Responsible Driving), ABATE of Colorado, CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation), and Scott O’Sullivan of Rider Justice — the only personal injury law firm actively working to prevent motorcycle accidents and fatalities, not just represent them after they happen.

“We fought hard to get these laws passed, but they don’t mean anything if they aren’t being enforced,” Montoya said. “If more drivers were actually being cited for texting and driving — having to show proof of insurance and pay fines — it would make them think twice before picking up their phones behind the wheel.”

Sgt. Ivan Alvarado’s Top Safety Warnings – Colorado State Patrol – Colorado Matters Interview

“At the end of the day, everybody has a part in the numbers going up — and everybody has a part in bringing them down.”
— Sgt. Ivan Alvarado, Colorado State Patrol

Why Motorcycle Crashes Are Increasing

• Speed & Impairment: Many motorcycle riders are going too fast or riding under the influence — a deadly combination.
• Distracted Drivers: Texting, phone use, and inattentive motorists put motorcycle riders at extreme risk.
• Helmet Use: Of 165 riders killed in 2024, 73 were not wearing helmets — protection that could have saved lives.
• Population Growth: More traffic and congestion mean greater exposure and risk for motorcycle riders.
• Weak Enforcement: Laws banning handheld phone use exist but aren’t enforced strongly enough to deter behavior.
• Shared Responsibility: Drivers must stay alert; riders must stay sober and cautious — everyone has a role in safety.

“Slow down. Stay sober. Put the phone down. Helmets save lives — and awareness saves everyone.”

Laurie Montoya – President of BikerDown – Advocacy and Rider-Focused Solutions

“BikerDown is here for motorcycle riders when they need it most — but we’d rather prevent the call altogether.”
— Laurie Montoya, BikerDown

Key Points from Laurie Montoya

• The Human Cost: Each crash impacts families and the riding community deeply — these are real lives, not numbers.
• Awareness and Visibility: Both motorcycle riders and drivers must share the road responsibly.
• Enforcing Distracted Driving Laws: Stronger enforcement is critical to reduce distracted driving crashes.
• Helmet Encouragement: Even though it’s optional, riders are urged to wear helmets to improve survival odds.
• Insurance Education: Riders often discover too late that they lack coverage. Montoya encourages free insurance reviews through:
  • BikerDown Insurance Review
  • Rider Justice Insurance Review
• Community Mission: Since 2011, BikerDown has provided financial support, advocacy, and accident scene training for injured motorcycle riders and their families.

Closing Thoughts

After listening to this Colorado Matters podcast, this writer finds that the Colorado State Patrol still tends to frame motorcycle crashes as issues of rider responsibility rather than a broader, shared safety problem on our roads. While Sgt. Alvarado acknowledged that distracted driving is illegal in Colorado — including texting, using handheld mobile devices, or engaging in any behavior that diverts attention from the road — the agency admits that beyond public awareness campaigns, those laws are not being adequately enforced.

The lack of consistent traffic stops, citations, and distracted driving checkpoints continues to send the wrong message to motorists. More active enforcement of these existing laws could not only deter dangerous driving behaviors but also help law enforcement identify and remove drivers with no license, suspended licenses, or no insurance from the road. Such proactive enforcement would protect everyone — ensuring that, in the unfortunate event of an accident, the injured party has a legitimate path to recovery rather than being left without recourse.

Both Sgt. Alvarado and Laurie Montoya agree that this is a community-wide issue requiring commitment from everyone who uses Colorado’s roads. It will take more training, stronger enforcement, and ongoing education to change the culture of driving — not only to safeguard motorcycle riders, but also pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers.

In the end, road safety is not just a motorcycle issue or a driver issue — it’s a human issue. Every life lost is one too many, and the solution lies not in assigning blame, but in demanding accountability, awareness, and action from us all.