It’s the most wonderful time of the year, unless you’re trying to combat drunk and drugged driving and then it is quite a challenging time of the year.  That’s what the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is trying to do this holiday season.  Across the country fatalities due to drunk and drugged driving are on the rise and they consistently see a spike during the holiday season.  New Haven auto accidents involving drunk and drugged driving rise during the last half of November and the month of December every year and this is a continually problem that is facing officials. Law enforcement officials use all of the tools in their tool belts to combat this rise in fatalities as the holidays near; speed traps are increased, enforcement of drunk and drugged driving laws is increased, and there is always a greater police presence on the roads during the holiday season, but even these heightened measures are not enough to completely combat this spike in injury and death. This year, the GHSA has teamed up with Uber and five state highway offices to provide a $95,000 grant to states including Connecticut, Colorado, Texas, Maryland, and New Mexico in an effort to offer free Uber rides to people who are out celebrating the holiday season.  The goal is to reduce the number of people who are intoxicated and…continue reading

This year Connecticut auto accidents deaths have been on the rise and an alarming new look at the number of deaths on our roads has many experts concerned that this will actually end up being the deadliest year on record on Connecticut’s roads.  Through November 1st, 2021 there have been 283 fatalities due to auto accidents in the state, that puts us on pace to have the most deaths in a single year in our state’s history. Last year, 2020, was a deadly year on Connecticut’s roads as well, but this year is significantly higher as the state is seeing an increase in auto accident deaths by 16% over this time last year.  Experts warn that if this trend continues the number of deaths will continue to climb, especially with one of the deadliest months for auto accidents coming up in December.  With more and more people out traveling for the holidays and getting together with friends and family, drunk driving will be on the rise as will distracted driving and these two dangerous behaviors behind the wheel will undoubtedly spike the number of deaths in the coming weeks. One of the biggest factors that both motorists and experts are pointing to is the increased speed that is occurring on Connecticut’s roads.  During the lockdowns at the peak of the pandemic the roads were less…continue reading

Not to oversell it too much, but the new bi-partisan infrastructure bill that will be signed in the coming days by President Biden passed the U.S. Congress with support from both parties due in large part to the monumental investments in roads, bridges, and broadband that the bill codifies into law.  One provision that is getting less attention though is the part of the bill that requires auto manufacturers to add certain safety features to new vehicles by 2026. The new law requires that all vehicles sold after 2026 include a passive technology that will help determine whether a driver who gets behind the wheel is intoxicated or not.  The bill does not specify what technology should be used for this purpose, it requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to work with auto manufacturers to determine the best technology for the job.  Currently, with over 10,000 deaths associated with drunk driving in the United States, the landscape is ripe for a solution and this bill aims to require that of auto manufacturers in the very near future. Some car makers are already including technology in their vehicles that helps detect when a driver is intoxicated.  Both GM and Nissan have led the way on this while other manufacturers are following suit.  Due to this new legislation all manufacturers will need to follow suit by 2026.…continue reading