Efforts to Curtail Wrong-Way Driving, Drowsy Driving Expand in CT

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Two sit-up-and-take-notice statistics ought to give Connecticut drivers pause when the approach a highway behind the wheel this week, and thereafter.

·         In Connecticut, between 2018 and 2022, drowsy or fatigued driving resulted in 6,892 crashes of which 15 were fatalities and another 2,513 resulted in injuries, according to the UConn Crash Data Repository.

·         Wrong-way driving crashes in Connecticut tripled in 2022. This includes 13 wrong-way crashes that resulted in 23 deaths, compared to 4 wrong-way crashes in 2021 and 2 in 2020. Studies have shown that wrong-way driving crashes are 100 times more likely to be fatal than other types of crashes.

Governor Ned Lamont announced this week that the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is launching a new public awareness campaign on the dangers of wrong-way driving as part of the state’s larger strategy of reversing the catastrophic recent increase in wrong-way crashes and deaths.

The campaign’s theme of “One Wrong Move” demonstrates how just one moment and one decision can be fatal. It features spots distributed through a variety of media outlets such as television, radio, digital, and billboards.

Over the past several years CTDOT has begun to install wrong way driving countermeasures. To augment these efforts CTDOT will launch a wrong way detection pilot program this year at 16 high-risk ramp locations.  Along with the pilot program, $20 million in additional state funding allow CTDOT to deploy additional wrong way countermeasures. CTDOT is also outfitting multiple ramp locations with wrong way detection technology.

“Wrong way driving deaths in Connecticut are up 500% and we are doing everything we can to reverse these trends,” Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said. “More than 80% of wrong way drivers are found to be impaired. It is so important people think twice before they get behind the wheel. Driving drunk is a dangerous decision that can hurt and kill people. We need people to drive sober because one wrong move can be deadly.”

Last summer, Governor Lamont authorized the release of $20 million in state bond funding for CTDOT to purchase and install advanced wrong-way driving technology along the state’s highways and roads. This technology uses motion sensors to detect a driver entering a highway exit ramp from the wrong direction and rapidly flashes LED lights to notify them that they are driving the wrong way.

So far, the new technology has been installed and is currently operating at several high-risk ramps across Connecticut, including in:

  • Colchester on Route 2 at Exit 17 eastbound;

  • Groton on I-95 at Exit 88 southbound;

  • Milford on I-95 at Exit 34;

  • Montville on I-395 at Exit 6 northbound;

  • Southington on I-84 at Exit 28 westbound, Exit 29 westbound, Exit 32 westbound, and Exit 32 eastbound;

  • Windsor on Route 291 at Exit 5 westbound; and

  • Norwich on I-395 at Exit 24 southbound.

In addition to these ramps, CTDOT plans to install this technology in dozens more locations over the course of this year. Some of the locations that are targeted to soon receive it are in:

  • East Hartford on I-84 at the westbound HOV exit;

  • Groton on I-95 at Exit 87 southbound;

  • Meriden on Route 691 at Exit 8 eastbound;

  • New Britain on Route 9 at Exit 25 northbound; and

  • Windsor on Route 91 at the northbound HOV exit, Exit 42 northbound, and Exit 42 southbound.

According to the DOT website, an additional 50 locations have been identified for installation by CTDOT in 2023.

Wrong way crashes are not the only challenge on the roads.  As Daylight Saving Time settles in this week, drivers beware, warns AAA Northeast: “when you snooze behind the wheel, you’ll lose.” Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman, says “drivers must be extra cautious when they’re behind the wheel.  Driving drowsy is a form of impairment because it affects your judgment.”

Although an underreported issue, drowsy driving has caused approximately a million crashes, 500,000 injuries, and 8,000 deaths annually nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports.

A recent AAA Foundation study revealed that many drivers are aware they’re tired but underestimate their level of tiredness. For example, in the study even though drivers rated their level of drowsiness as “low,” 75%, were in fact moderately or severely drowsy.

In another 2022 Traffic Safety Culture Index study, 95% of respondents said they view drowsy driving as very dangerous, but 19% admitted they drive anyway even though they had a hard time keeping their eyes open at least once in the previous month.