Thanksgiving travel is about to ramp up. AAA is projecting more than 800,000 people from Connecticut will go somewhere for the holiday. Of those travelers, almost 90 percent will be driving to their destinations.
More than 800,000 people from Connecticut will go somewhere for the Thanksgiving holiday, AAA is projecting. Of those travelers, almost 90 percent will be driving to their destinations.
This has the state thinking about our roads, particularly wrong-way driving.
Gov. Ned Lamont and the state Department of Transportation plan on making an announcement about wrong-way driving on Monday.
Josh Morgan, with the CT DOT, said it happens almost every weekend, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. He says the state's highway operation centers are constantly getting notifications that there are wrong-way drivers.
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In Connecticut, more than a dozen people have been killed in wrong-way crashes this year alone.
The state is trying to prevent these types of crashes with the use of wrong-way detection systems. They have about 110 installed now and they are confident that they will have 125 by the end of the year.
Morgan said the technology is working and a majority of drivers are getting turned around by the systems before they get to the highway. Then state police arrives in a matter of minutes when they're activated. While they are helping, he says they aren't perfect.
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"Sometimes the driver will be allegedly impaired and continue on the highway despite the system lights flashing," Morgan said.
According to Morgan, impairment is the leading reason for wrong-way crashes.
State troopers will also be ramping up as people get on the roads to travel for Thanksgiving.
Troopers will be patrolling roads and highways over the long holiday weekend, focusing on stopping aggressive drivers, unsafe drivers and drivers who are under the influence, according to state police.
State police warn you not follow the cars around you too closely. They are asking drivers to maintain the speed limit and stay off your cell phone while driving.
Anyone planning to consume alcohol or use marijuana is asked to designate a driver or call for a rideshare for everyone’s safety and not drive.
“During Thanksgiving week, it is especially important that drivers take the time to arrive at their destination safely. Check traffic and weather reports before you leave home and be prepared as highways will be crowded with other travelers,” Colonel Daniel Loughman, commanding officer of the State Police, said in a statement. “If you are on the roads, please follow all traffic laws and serve as an extra set of eyes for law enforcement: if you see an emergency on the road, please call 911.”
State police said troopers assigned to Bradley International Airport will be helping keep passengers safe.
