'Real Crisis': Traffic-Related Deaths Up Nearly 16% In CT

CONNECTICUT — The state Department of Transportation Office of Highway Safety is urging residents to take extra caution when they hit the roads this holiday season. According to the most recent data, traffic-related fatalities in Connecticut are up nearly 16 percent from a year ago.

As of Nov. 12, there have been 290 traffic related deaths in Connecticut, up from 257 in 2020, and 216 in 2019.

"If you think it seems more dangerous out on Connecticut's highways and interstates lately, you're right," said Connecticut Department of Transportation commissioner Joseph Giulietti. "It is a real crisis. It's happening here and it's happening across the country. We are seeing an unprecedented increase in fatalities."

In an attempt to get ahead of those fatalities, Connecticut State Police have announced they are ramping up their patrols over the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Beginning Wednesday at midnight, and running through Sunday at 11:59 p.m., troopers will patrol roads and highways across Connecticut focusing on aggressive, unsafe and drunk drivers.

Patrol Troopers will use traditional and non-traditional patrol cars to observe traffic and issue
tickets to reckless and distracted drivers.

Thanksgiving weekend traffic violations and injuries were down in 2020 from 2019 as many residents stayed home due to COVID-19, according to the Connecticut State Police:

2020 Connecticut Thanksgiving Stats:

• Calls for Service: 7,181
• Speeding violations: 211
• Seatbelt violations: 106
• Other hazardous violations (Including unsafe lane change, following too closely, cell phone usage, texting, failure to signal, etc.): 775
• DUI arrests: 29
• Accidents investigated: 376
  • with injury: 52
  • fatalities: 7

2019 Connecticut Thanksgiving Stats:

• Calls for Service: 7,205
• Speeding violations: 385
• Seatbelt violations: 20
• Other hazardous violations (ncluding unsafe lane change, following too closely, cell phone usage, texting, failure to signal, etc.): 1,257
• DUI arrests: 52
• Accidents investigated: 593
  • with injury: 61
  • fatalities: 2

On a national level, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 20,160 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the first half of 2021, up 18.4 percent over 2020. That's the largest number of projected fatalities in that time period since 2006.

The recent rise in traffic deaths is likely due to a variety of reasons, starting with the increase in speeding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to NHTSA, during the pandemic, driving patterns and behaviors in the United States changed significantly. Speeds increased drastically and they haven't fully come back down as more and more people returned to work and to the state's roadways. That, combined with the stress of the pandemic, has resulted in an increase in aggressive driving.

All of these factors contribute to traffic deaths that are currently on track to reach record levels by the end of the year.

"During the winter months and holiday season, we typically see an increase in crashes and fatalities - mostly due to impaired driving, distractions and hazardous weather conditions," Giulietti said. "Combined with the speed and aggressive driving patterns since the start of the pandemic, we are pleading with Connecticut drivers to be more vigilant than ever. We need to do everything we can to stop this trend."