DRCOG previews 2024 crash data, outlines limited-scope update to Regional Vision Zero plan

Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) staff on the working group meeting previewed preliminary 2024 crash data and outlined a minor update to the Regional Vision Zero plan intended mainly to refresh the underlying data and add risk‑based layers for priority crash types.

The update will use 2020–2024 crash records, will focus narrowly on data and mapping rather than major policy changes, and is scheduled for technical analysis through spring, a public review over the summer, and an anticipated adoption in 2026, DRCOG staff said.

DRCOG data lead Eric (DRCOG staff) told the working group that total crashes in the Denver region increased slightly in 2024 (about 1 percent) and that preliminary counts show a small rise in fatal crashes after a dip in 2023. He cautioned the figures were preliminary and subject to revision when state sources such as CDOT and FARS update investigations. “This isn’t normalized by population or vehicle miles,” Eric said, noting he had done a population normalization that produced a similar trend.

Why it matters: the high‑injury (HIN) or “high‑hydra” network remains the primary DRCOG tool to prioritize safety investments, and updating the network with recent data will change which corridors appear as highest priority across the region. Catherine (DRCOG staff), who led the update scope discussion, said the plan was adopted in 2020, updated in 2024 with action items,…