Deadly 48 Hours on Connecticut Roads

AAA Warns…Worst May BeYet to Come

Six people were killed on Connecticut roadways in less than 48 hours including 2 pedestrians and a motorcyclist, raising concerns among traffic safety experts who note a troubling trend.

“There have been more than 200 deaths on Connecticut roads this year – and the second half of the year is typically even more deadly than the first” says Amy Parmenter, spokesperson for AAA in Greater Hartford. “There are a lot of factors at play but, no matter how you look at it, we are headed in the wrong direction.”

According to police, 2 people were killed in a head-on crash in Farmington Thursday night, a Bristol man was killed in a motorcycle crash Friday morning, a woman was struck and killed by a hit and run driver in Hartford Friday night, a Norwalk man was killed by a hit and run driver Friday night and another person died in a crash on I-91 in Rocky Hill Saturday morning.

"This is not one issue. It's many issues - distraction, drinking, drugs, speeding - increasing the risks on our roadways" Parmenter says.

AAA is reminding drivers to:

• increase awareness by limiting distractions
• ensure everyone is buckled up
• slow down
• drive defensively 
• don't drink - or do drugs - and drive. 

Traffic deaths across the country have spiked in recent years, according to the National Highway Safety Administration, up sharply in 2015, up in 2016 and, it appears, on pace to be up again this year.  The National Safety Council says there were more than 40,000 traffic-related deaths last year.

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and more than one million members in Connecticut.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit www.aaa.com.