On Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., local agencies will host a Traffic Safety Symposium at the Grand Fire Protection District No. 1 headquarters to address the county’s traffic safety problems. 

Traffic safety has risen to the forefront of public concern for Grand County this year. Residents and officials alike have sounded alarms over rising fatalities and dangerous driving behavior. 

The Grand County Sheriff’s Office will lead the symposium in partnership with the Coroner’s Office and Emergency Medical Services. It will be a collaborative evening designed to bring together local and state officials to share their perspectives on roadway safety. 

Rather than a traditional panel, the program will feature individual presentations, giving each agency a chance to explain its role and highlight current efforts. Topics will range from enforcement and emergency response to long-term prevention strategies. The event will be in-person with a virtual option offered as well.

A year of loss

Sheriff Brett Schroetlin said the timing of the symposium reflects the urgency of the issue. 

“Traffic has become an increasingly large problem in our community. We’re seeing more vehicles, less compliance with traffic laws and unfortunately a significant number of fatalities this year,” he explained. 

Grand County has recorded 11 roadway deaths in 2025, including the Aug. 4 accident on Highway 9 which claimed five lives. Schroetlin emphasized that while enforcement is a daily priority, the sheer volume of traffic has increased risk across the county. 

“We’ve done a fantastic job of making Grand County a premier tourist destination, but with that comes more people and more traffic, and unfortunately, more risk,” he said. 

Accidents have not been confined to one stretch of road. Highway 9 south of Kremmling and Highway 40’s Red Dirt Hill remain areas of concern, but Schroetlin noted that crashes are occurring countywide, from highways to local roads. 

Enforcement and accountability

The sheriff’s office launched a zero-tolerance campaign this year, focusing on violations such as speeding, illegal passing, lane misuse and impaired driving. Schroetlin said deputies are making significant numbers of traffic stops and increased citations, but enforcement alone cannot solve the problem. 

One challenge, he explained, is the low penalties associated with many violations.

“If you do an illegal pass on a solid yellow line and risk your life and others’, the fine is about $135. People weigh that amount against their daily lives and are willing to take the chance, without thinking about the repercussions of serious injury or death,” Schroetlin said. 

He added that deputies juggle traffic enforcement with other responsibilities. 

“Zero tolerance doesn’t mean we’ll catch every offender. It means when we can address a violation, we’ll take a strict approach. But we can’t put a deputy every tenth of a mile,” he said. 

Community efforts

While agencies prepare to share their strategies, residents are also acting. Local advocate Deric Duerst has organized a Highway 40 Community Safety Coalition, encouraging locals to collaborate towards solutions. 

Duerst expressed the fear that has spread through Grand County: “A lot of people have reached out to me that travel Red Dirt daily. They’re fearful of getting in their cars. They wonder: ‘Is this the day I punch the big timeclock because someone passes me aggressively?'” 

Duerst is requesting space for the coalition to meet at the Granby Library on Dec. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. This will be time for the group to discuss their goals, present questions and hold emotional space for people. 

Traffic Safety Symposium

The Dec. 9 symposium will feature a list of speakers from a range of government agencies. Organizers have requested that participants submit their questions in advance to help streamline the discussion. 

Schroetlin mentioned that the goal is transparency and collaboration: “We want the community to see what we’re doing, what processes we have and then work collectively to figure out solutions moving forward. We believe in education, enforcement and compliance, but this is something our community needs to tackle head on.”

Residents can expect updates on accident trends, enforcement strategies and emergency response coordination. Officials also plan to share statistics breaking down contributing factors such as speed, impaired drive and passing violations. 

Both Schroetlin and Duerst stressed that lasting change will require personal responsibility and community involvement. 

“Every single one of us has to start with ourselves and then move into our family and friend groups,” Schroetlin said. “If 16,000 full-time residents adopt that philosophy, it will spread to our tourism community as well.”

As winter driving season begins, Schroetlin urged residents and visitors to prepare vehicles with good tires, blankets, and safety gear and above all to slow down. 

“Winters up here can be treacherous. Take time, get there safely and make sure you’re prepared before you even go out,” he said.