DOT tells state drivers: Be safe on Memorial Day
Warning comes as ‘crashes rise to unprecedented levels’
Connecticut drivers are reminded to be on alert this long holiday weekend because Memorial Day tends to be not only one of the busiest weekends in terms of travel — but also deadly.
Between 2011 and 2020, 44 people were killed in crashes in Connecticut during the Memorial Day weekend, which runs from Thursday evening through early Monday, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Nationwide, more than 5,600 people were killed in Memorial Day weekend accidents in the last decade, according to the NHTSA.
“Memorial Day weekend is considered one of the busiest travel times in Connecticut,” state Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti said. “Vehicle crashes are rising to unprecedented levels, and people continue traveling way too fast. I urge motorists to put down the cellphone, buckle up, slow down and always drive sober.”
The most fatal car accidents in the state occur from May through August, peaking with 192 car deaths in August since 2015, according to the DOT crash emphasis area dashboard.
May is the fourth deadliest month for car crashes, according to the data. Since 2015, there have been 177 car fatalities in Connecticut in May.
Connecticut State Police are also gearing up for the holiday weekend, heightening their search for people driving under the influence as the start of summer is often associated with drinking, according to a State Police statement.
“Traditionally, Memorial Day weekend is the start to activities related to beaches, backyards and barbecues. State troopers are standing by to ensure that highways are free of hazardous drivers as residents drive to their destinations,” the statement said.
“Troopers from each of the agency’s 11 troops will be conducting extra roving DUI patrols from the evening
of May 26 through the evening of May 30. It’s a great time to spend be with friends and family, so troopers ask you to utilize lawful driving skills and plan for traffic delays as more drivers venture out,” the statement said.
The number of accidents over Memorial Day weekend has varied widely in recent years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, state police investigated 341 accidents, 52 of which included injuries and one of which was fatal, according to the statement.
Troopers responded to 7,540 calls for service and issued 2,242 violations, 607 for speeding and 448 seatbelt violations, according to the statement. The remaining violations include texting and driving, following too closely and unsafe lane change, among other violations. And 20 driving under the influence arrests were made,
according to state police.
In 2020, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the months prior, the amount of traffic and the number of accidents dropped significantly. State police investigated 175 accidents in 2020, none of which were fatal, according to the statement.
However, more calls for service were received and more DUI arrests were made, police said. In 2020, police received 7,963 calls for service, issued 2,017 violations and made 33 DUI arrests, according to the statement.
Speeding violations were also up in 2020, with nearly 1,000 tickets administered, police said.
Last year, Memorial Day weekend accidents rose again to 377, with 56 injuries and one fatality, according to the statement. Calls for service dipped to 5,636, and DUI arrests went down to 30.
Troopers at Troop D in Danielson, will be conducting a DUI/sobriety checkpoint on Friday evening on Route 44 in the vicinity of Route 21 in Putnam. The Troop D troopers will work in conjunction with troopers from the Traffic Services Unit to conduct this checkpoint to ensure the highest possible degree of safety for motorists during the holiday period.
Holiday traffic is expected to return near preCOVID levels this weekend, according to AAA.
“Road travel is expected to increase by nearly 5
percent compared to last year, which represents approximately 93 percent of prepandemic vehicle travel,” a DOT statement said.
To help with the flow of traffic, no DOT maintenance or construction will be conducted from Friday through Tuesday morning on the state’s limited-access highways, according to the statement.
“Every year, hundreds of Americans hit the road on Memorial Day weekend but don’t make it home to their families after a traffic crash,” said Alec Slatky, AAA’s director of public health and government affairs for the Northeast.
“A car is a multi-ton weapon when operated recklessly, and drivers must be sober, avoid distractions, and travel at a safe speed so they don’t endanger themselves and others. Even small changes in speed can make a big difference in crash severity,” he said.