DENVER -- Eighty-four people died while trying to cross the street last year, a 30 percent increase when compared to 2015.
"A thirty percent increase in one year is concerning," said Sam Cole with the Colorado Department of Transportation's traffic and safety division. "Pedestrians are our most vulnerable road users, they really don't stand a chance when it comes to a two-ton machine that's coming down the road."
CDOT said more than half of the 1,300 pedestrian crashes happened in the middle of the road, and not in the crosswalk.
"It's something we've always heard since we were children -- use the crosswalks, but it's true and it will save your life," said Cole.
But that doesn't mean drivers are off the hook either.
"We need to get drivers looking out for pedestrians when they're driving down the road, they need to slow down, they need to stay off their phones," said Cole.
Denver7 reporter Jennifer Kovaleski wanted to see what she could find out on the road.
In thirty minutes at the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Ogden Street, our cameras caught 20 different pedestrians cross the road illegally. Some stopped in the middle of the road, while others ran across.
At Union Station, many people did use the crosswalk. But in just fifteen minutes, we saw nine people jaywalk.
CDOT is launching a yearlong campaign on pedestrian safety with videos and radio spots. They have also put up several billboards across Downtown Denver.
For pedestrian laws and safety tips, visit https://www.codot.gov/programs/bikeped/information-for-pedestrians.
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