NEW HAVEN, Conn. — State officials, police, and safety advocates are calling for action aimed at ending deadly drunk driving in Connecticut and all over the nation.
They point to a recent report issued by a Pennsylvania-based law firm, listing the cities with the highest rate of deadly DUI crashes using data from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration; three Connecticut cities are on the list.
Hartford has the fifth-highest rate of fatal drunk driving crashes. Waterbury and New Haven are lower on the list at 13th and 60th, respectively.
That’s one reason why lawmakers are calling for a federal rule for new technology to stop drunk drivers.
"It’s a distinction no city welcomes but one New Haven is facing squarely," said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Road fatalities have been on the rise. In 2018 there were 281 fatal crashes, 67 crashes were caused by impaired driving.
In 2022 there were 338 fatal crashes, there were 116 caused by impaired drivers. So far this year, the state is on track for another year of high numbers.
Blumenthal, New Haven Police and the state Department of Transportation officials are speaking out calling for new changes.
Blumenthal wants more rules to prevent drunk driving. He's calling on the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration to finalize rules that would equip new cars with technology to prevent drunk and impaired driving.
The technology stops a vehicle from being able to drive if it senses alcohol above the legal limit on a driver.
"It should be instituted right away standard in new cars to prevent these deaths," said Blumenthal.
The NHTSA has until November to implement this rule.
It’s not clear where the agency stands on meeting that deadline.
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Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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