Colorado's Pioneering Move: 'Vulnerable Road User Protection Fee' Aims to Safeguard Pedestrians

According to recent reports, Colorado, USA is contemplating a groundbreaking bill that could impose an additional fee on owners of large pickup trucks and SUVs before they hit the road. The primary objective of this proposed legislation is to enhance the safety of pedestrians and other road users when sharing the road with these heavier vehicles.

This bill introduces what is being called a "vulnerable road user protection fee" for drivers of heavy vehicles, irrespective of whether they are traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles or electric vehicles (EVs). The revenue generated from this fee will be directed towards funding vital pedestrian and bicycle safety projects.

If this bill becomes law, Colorado would make history as the first state to establish a dedicated "vulnerable road user protection enterprise cash fund." The additional fee levied on large vehicles is projected to generate nearly $20 million annually. However, this fee would only apply to the 12 most populous counties in the state, where pedestrian and bicycle accidents are most prevalent.

Lisa Cutter, a state Senator, emphasized, "Data clearly demonstrates that the weight of vehicles is directly linked to the number of vulnerable road user fatalities. It only makes sense to allocate funding accordingly. This isn't about discouraging the purchase of these vehicles; it's about acknowledging that they are disproportionately involved in these tragic accidents."