troopers are wrestling with “an abnormal increase” in motorcycle crashes and fatalities, blaming the relatively clear, dry road conditions amid temperatures above freezing in November and December.
Rather than put their motorcycles away in November for the usual off-season, Colorado riders seized opportunities to extend their riding during the unseasonably dry and warm winter, CSP leaders said in a news release Monday morning. They’re advising riders to wear protective gear and prioritize safety.
“This week, as the weekend’s snow melts away, the forecast looks warm again and will likely tempt many avid riders,” Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the patrol, said in a statement. “Drivers are not accustomed to seeing many motorcycles this time of year, but should stay alert to avoid collisions.”
Historically, motorcycle crashes decreased in November and December. But in 2025, shows above-average crashes, with four more fatal crashes than the average in November, five more crashes causing injuries, and 12 more motorcycle crashes overall.
In December, state data shows three more fatal crashes and three more injury crashes, and six more crashes overall compared with the four-year average (2021-2024). So far this January, state troopers have documented at least one fatal motorcycle crash.
The increased Colorado traffic deaths in 2025 included 146 motorcycle crash fatalities, according to data.
Among the violations for which troopers most frequently issued citations in 2025 were careless driving, operating a motorcycle without a license endorsement, and speeding 10 mph to 29 mph over the limit.
"Riders," Packard said, "are not starting the year off right."
