NAUGATUCK, Conn. — The week of Thanksgiving tends to be a deadly time for Connecticut drivers, with a history of crashes involving wrong-way drivers and people driving under the influence.
“2022 was not only the deadliest year on our roadways in recent history, since the 1980’s, but it was also the year where wrong way crashes killed 23 individuals. More than ever before in our history,” said Garrett T. Eucalitto, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation.
Eucalitto gathered alongside other state leaders and the Connecticut State Police on South Main Street in Naugatuck Monday, right near Route 8, to send a message to the public about safe driving this holiday.
State leaders chose the off-ramp as a backdrop for their conference, which was one of more than 120 locations selected for the state to install brand new wrong-way detection systems. When a driver enters the highway going the wrong way, the signs start flashing red lights and alert DOT and state police to the incident.
Eucalitto noted the South Main Street location has had 14 activations of the system so far this year.
“And all of those drivers have safely turned around. We call that a self-correction,” Eucalitto said.
It’s a result Eucalitto said they are seeing 80% of the time in the 195 total activations of the state’s detection system so far this year.
When drivers do not self-correct, state troopers step in.
“I am deeply appreciative of these Connecticut state troopers who will do whatever it takes, including driving directly into an oncoming vehicle to protect the motoring public,” said Commissioner Ronnell Higgins of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or DESPP.
Higgins said that’s what happened earlier this month in Harwinton when a trooper purposefully collided with a wrong-way driver on Route 8. More recently, a Hartford woman was charged over the weekend as troopers caught up with her after driving the wrong way on Interstate 84 near Manchester.
“These systems, they’re not going to stop every wrong way driver, but if they stop enough of them to save a least a few lives, I think it’s worthwhile and a worthy cause,” said Rep. Seth Bronko, (R)-Naugatuck.
Bronko knows all too well what happens when people don’t think before getting behind the wheel. He lost a friend, William “B.J.” Baer Jr., to a wrong-way driver on Rt. 8 12 years ago.
He is urging everyone to take the advice from leaders seriously.
“It was terrible. He was a young guy, two years removed from college in the middle of getting his master’s degree, had his whole life ahead of him,” Bronko said. “Now, as a dad with two young kids and looking back of the future he could have had, had a wrong way driver been stopped, or not done it at all, it could have changed the course of his life, his girlfriend’s life, his whole family’s life.”
Before drivers hit the road this week, leaders are urging them to stay sober, put the distractions down and call for a ride if need be.
“Look out for somebody. If you think they shouldn’t be driving, take the keys out of their hands. We’re doing what we can with technology. But the other 90% is up to you,” Gov. Ned Lamont said.
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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