Colorado State Patrol Urges Winter Wildlife Safety for Logan County Drivers

The Colorado State Patrol published a winter safety notice on December 9 aimed at motorists on rural roads across the state, with direct relevance for drivers in Logan County served by Troop 3B based in Sterling. The release highlighted that last December troopers investigated hundreds of wildlife related crashes statewide and identified the most common risky periods as late afternoon and evening and early morning. The agency emphasized that collisions with deer and other animals often spike during these times and carry high costs for residents and first responders.

The patrol laid out practical guidance for motorists. Drivers were advised to obey posted speed limits, use high beams where safe to increase visibility, scan shoulders for movement and eye shine, and avoid sudden swerves or hard braking when traffic is present. The release recommends flashing lights and slowing in a straight line when there is time and space to do so, and to call 911 after any crash. The patrol reiterated that swerving to avoid an animal frequently causes more serious collisions and offered step by step advice for responding based on the traffic and space around a vehicle.

For Logan County the guidance has immediate local implications. Rural stretches of Highway and county roads see regular wildlife crossings, and holiday travel increases exposure during the highest risk periods. Slower emergency response times and the involvement of farm vehicles and school transportation magnify the potential consequences of wildlife related crashes. Troop 3B troopers and local emergency services will be balancing routine patrol duties with these seasonal hazards.

The safety notice also raises policy and budget questions for county leaders and state legislators. Mitigation measures such as improved signage, shoulder maintenance, wildlife fencing in key corridors, and targeted lighting are costly and require coordination between county public works, the Colorado Department of Transportation, and state funding streams. Residents concerned about road safety can bring this issue to county commission meetings and to state representatives during upcoming budget discussions. Local advocacy for data driven mitigation and sustained funding can shape how resources are allocated to reduce collisions and improve emergency response in rural Logan County.