CGH Injury Lawyers is calling attention to a recently enacted change in Colorado's passenger vehicle traction law as drivers head into the first full winter driving season under the updated rules. The change, part of House Bill 26-1237, took effect Aug. 12 and removes the law's references to four-wheel and all-wheel drive so that the same tire, chain and traction device requirements apply to every passenger vehicle on a state highway.
House Bill 26-1237, titled Transportation Safety Modifications, was signed into law May 5, according to General Assembly records. When the traction law is activated, a passenger vehicle must have tires rated all-weather or mud and snow with a tread depth of at least 3/16 inch, or it must carry chains or an approved alternative traction device for two or more tires, according to reporting by the Post Independent. Lawmakers took up the clarification after sponsors of a 2025 update acknowledged that its wording had created confusion over how the law applied to two-wheel-drive vehicles.
"The traction law now applies the same tire standard to every passenger vehicle, regardless of drivetrain," said Kevin Cheney, managing partner of CGH Injury Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. "The firm is sharing that information so drivers can check their tires before the first mountain storm arrives."
The traction requirements are part of the state's seasonal winter driving rules, which took effect Sept. 1. The same bill also made it illegal to stop, stand or park in a marked bike lane, except to avoid conflict with other traffic or when directed by an officer or a traffic control device. In addition, the law updates collision-related language across 13 titles of state statute to use "crash" or "incident" in addition to or in place of "accident."
The update arrived during a legislative session that AAA described as the most consequential for traffic safety in decades. According to AAA, 701 people were killed on the state's roads in 2025, and 235 of those deaths involved an impaired driver. Advocates who supported the bill said the terminology change makes the state only the second in the nation to formally replace "accident" with "crash" in its statutes.
CGH Injury Lawyers, formerly known as Cheney Galluzzi & Howard LLC, represents people injured in vehicle crashes, falls and other incidents. The firm adopted its current name in April 2026. Drivers can check whether the traction law is active on a given route through the state Department of Transportation's travel information service before leaving for the mountains.
Additional information about CGH Injury Lawyers and Colorado's Car Accident claim is available at https://www.cghlawfirm.com/practice-areas/car-accidents/.
This press release contains general legal information and does not constitute legal advice. Results vary by case. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Consult a licensed attorney in one's jurisdiction.
About CGH Injury Lawyers
CGH Injury Lawyers is a plaintiff-side personal injury law firm founded in 2016 by Kevin Cheney and Tim Galluzzi and formerly known as Cheney Galluzzi & Howard LLC. The firm represents people injured in car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian crashes, falls and other incidents and families in wrongful death claims. CGH Injury Lawyers is located at 2701 Lawrence St Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205, and can be reached at (720) 669-8062 or www.cghlawfirm.com.
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For more information about CGH Injury Lawyers, contact the company here:
CGH Injury Lawyers
Tim Galluzzi
+17206698062
info@cghlawfirm.com
2701 Lawrence St Ste 201, Denver, CO 80205, United States
