Bill to Reduce Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions, Improve Safety on Colorado Highways Clears Committee

Legislation would enhance safety for motorists and wildlife

DENVER, CO – The Senate Transportation & Energy Committee yesterday approved a bill sponsored by Senators Jessie Danielson (D-Wheat Ridge) and Tammy Story (D-Confier) to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve safety for wildlife and motorists on Colorado highways.

The bill, SB22-151, would create a “Colorado Wildlife Safe Passages Mitigation Fund” for wildlife crossing projects on stretches of roads and highways with high rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs), or where the ability of wildlife to move across the landscape has been hampered by high traffic volumes.

“Wildlife corridors are a common sense way to protect motorists, keep wildlife safe, and ensure habitats stay intact,” said Sen. Danielson. “This bill will help ecosystems thrive and make sure our wild places continue to power Colorado’s economy for future generations.”

“Colorado is home to an abundance of wildlife that we need to protect,” said Sen. Story. “By investing in wildlife corridors along our highways, we will keep our wildlife safe and prevent dangerous collisions for our motorists.”

Wildlife-vehicle collisions cost Colorado motorists millions of dollars per year and endanger the lives of both people and wildlife. Colorado law enforcement reports an annual average of nearly 4,000 WVCs, though officials estimate a more accurate figure is 14,100 WVCs per year when unrecorded collisions are considered.

WVCs can have tragic consequences, including hundreds of human injuries and some fatalities, thousands of animal deaths, and an annual cost of approximately $80 million in property damage, emergency response, medical treatments, and other costs.

The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill HERE.