Fremont County proclaims December 2025 Impaired Driving Awareness Month after public‑health data walk

Michelle Beauchene of the Fremont County Department of Public Health and Environment presented the county’s impaired‑driving data walk and recommendations and asked the board to adopt a proclamation designating December 2025 as Impaired Driving Awareness Month.

Beauchene said the grant‑funded effort (supported by the Colorado Persistent Drunk Driving Cash Fund) uses interactive “data walks” to pair community stories with local crash and arrest data. She told commissioners that in 2023 Fremont County recorded nine motor‑vehicle fatalities, four of which (about 44 percent) involved an impaired driver — a share higher than state and national averages — and that community participants prioritized parking‑policy changes, transportation alternatives, incentives not to drive impaired, awareness work and law‑enforcement deterrents.

Following the presentation the board voted unanimously to proclaim December 2025 as Impaired Driving Awareness Month in Fremont County and encouraged residents to avoid impaired driving and support prevention activities. Commissioners and staff noted that data collection on non‑alcohol drugs is still developing and that sustained funding and community engagement will be needed to implement many strategies.

Why it matters: Fremont County’s local share of impaired‑driving fatalities and community‑generated priorities will inform local prevention planning and task‑force formation. The proclamation signals county support for continued data collection, public outreach and multi‑agency partnerships.

What’s next: Public‑health staff said the project is in year three of a five‑year grant cycle and plans include sustaining data collection, forming a community action board and piloting transportation or parking‑policy changes to reduce impaired driving.

Quote: “Behind every percent is a real person and a family affected,” Beauchene said, urging residents to participate in prevention efforts.