STATE TROOPERS PREPARE FOR HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT

	STATE OF CONNECTICUT Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection Connecticut State Police Public Information Office
Dr. Dora B. Schriro Commissioner		Colonel Alaric J. Fox Deputy Commissioner Division of State Police
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 22, 2016

Middletown, CT. (December 23, 2016): Connecticut State Troopers remind motorists that combining careful planning with sensible driving will lead to safer holiday travel for all making a trek during the busiest travel week of the year.

Many travelers are expected to hit Connecticut highways during the upcoming holidays. State Police ask motorists to follow all driving laws, as their behavior on the roads is essential to keeping potential hazards at a distance. Simply putting traffic laws into practice will prevent accidents and save lives:

Drive the speed limit.

Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
Ensure that all passengers are wearing seatbelts.
Signal when turning, changing lanes or taking an exit.
Refrain from texting or using your phone.
Never consume alcohol or prescription drugs before you get behind the wheel.
Move over (when safe to do so) whenever law enforcement, fire trucks, ambulances or tow trucks are occupying a lane. Please give them room to do their job efficiently and safely.

Drivers are also reminded to plan their trips with care:

Fill the gas tank prior to your journey.
Check windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid and tire pressure.
Fully charge your cell phone.
Carry winter blankets, drinking water and snacks
Check traffic conditions before leaving home
Keep a shovel and sand or salt in the trunk of your vehicle.

Your cooperation is critical to ensuring the well-being of all who are driving our highways and roads throughout the holiday weekend. Whenever you get behind the wheel, safety must be your top priority.

Please be our partner in keeping the roadways safe for all motorists.

State Police will operate roving patrols and conduct DUI checkpoints starting December 22, 2016 and continuing through the Christmas and New Year’s holiday.

Christmas 2015 stats:

Accidents:       461
    with injury: 56
    fatality:        5   12/24 I-95 x68 Old Saybrook, 12/25 Litchfield Tpke Bethany, 12/25 Rte. 6 Bolton,

                                  12/26 I-84 x58 E. Hartford, 12/27 I-91 x46 Enfield

DUI arrests:    40
Speeding:        621
Seatbelt:          36
Hazardous Moving violations:            1563

(to include following too close, distracted driving, cell phones, etc.)

12/22/16 Roving Patrols - Route 8 Corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in Harwinton, Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109 in Morris,

Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Harwinton and Route 72 in Harwinton

12/23/16 Roving Patrols - Route 8 Corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in Harwinton, Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109 in Morris,

Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Harwinton and Route 72

in Harwinton

12/24/16 Roving Patrols - Route 8 Corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in Harwinton, Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109 in Morris,

Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Harwinton and Route 72 in Harwinton

12/25/16 Roving Patrols - Route 8 Corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in Harwinton, Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109 in Morris,

Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Harwinton and Route 72 in Harwinton

12/26/16 Roving Patrols - Route 8 Corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in

Harwinton, Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109

in Morris, Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Harwinton

and Route 72 in Harwinton

12/29/16 Roving Patrols – Route 8 Corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in

Harwinton, Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109

in Morris, Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Harwinton

and Route 72 in Harwinton

12/30/16 Roving Patrols - Route 8 Corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in Harwinton,

Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109 in Morris,

Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Harwinton and Route 72

in Harwinton

12/31/16 Roving Patrols - Route 8 Corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in

Harwinton, Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109

in Morris, Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Harwinton

and Route 72 in Harwinton

01/01/17 Roving Patrols - Route 8 Corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in Harwinton,

Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109 in Morris,

Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Harwinton Route 72 in

and Harwinton

01/02/17 Roving Patrols - Route 8 Corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in Harwinton,

Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109 in Morris,

Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Harwinton and Route 72

in Harwinton

12/30/16 DUI Sobriety Checkpoint – Interstate 91 Exit 3 in New Haven. This will be in conjunction

with the Breath Alcohol Testing Mobile Unit

12/22/16 Roving Patrols –Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

12/23/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

12/24/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

12/25/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

12/26/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

12/27/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

12/28/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

12/29/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

12/30/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

12/31/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

01/01/17 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

01/02/17 Roving Patrols - Interstate 84 in greater Waterbury and Danbury patrol areas

12/29/16 Roving Patrols – Route 8 Limited Access Highway and Route 4 in Towns of

Torrington and Goshen

12/30/16 Roving Patrols – Route 8 Limited Access Highway and Route 44 in Towns of Winsted, Barkhamsted and New Hartford

12/31/16 Roving Patrols – Route 7 and Route 44 in Towns of North Canaan, Falls Village

and Norfolk

01/01/17 Roving Patrols – Routes 44, 202, 219 in Towns of Torrington, New Hartford and

Barkhamsted

CENTRAL

12/22/16 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 corridor in the greater Hartford patrol area

12/23/16 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 corridor in the greater Hartford patrol area

12/26/16 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 corridor in the greater Hartford patrol area

12/29/16 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 corridor in the greater Hartford patrol area

12/30/16 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 corridor in the greater Hartford patrol area

12/31/16 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 corridor in the greater Hartford patrol area

01/01/17 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 corridor in the greater Hartford patrol area

12/23/16 DUI Sobriety Checkpoint – Interstate 91 exit 6 on-ramp in New Haven

12/29/16 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 and 691in Meriden, and Interstate in New Haven

and North Haven and Route 8 in Shelton, Ansonia and Derby and Route 15 in Hamden and New Haven

12/30/16 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 and 691in Meriden, and Interstate in New Haven

and North Haven and Route 8 in Shelton, Ansonia and Derby and Route 15 in Hamden and New Haven

12/31/16 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 and 691in Meriden, and Interstate in New Haven

and North Haven and Route 8 in Shelton, Ansonia and Derby and Route 15 in Hamden and New Haven

01/01/17 Roving Patrols – Interstate 91 and 691in Meriden, and Interstate in New Haven

and North Haven and Route 8 in Shelton, Ansonia and Derby and Route 15 in Hamden and New Haven

12/22/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 95, Route 9 and Route 1 within Troop F patrol area

12/23/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 95, Route 9 and Route 1 within Troop F patrol area

12/23/16 Roving Patrols - Route 9 and Route 66 in Middletown, within Troop F patrol area

12/26/16 Roving Patrols - Interstate 95, Route 9 and Route 1 within Troop F patrol area

12/29/16 Roving Patrol - Interstate 95, Route 9 and Route 1 within Troop F patrol area

12/30/16 Roving Patrols - Route 9 and Route 66 in Middletown, within Troop F patrol area

12/31/16 Roving Patrol - Interstate 95, Route 9 and Route 1 within Troop F patrol area

01/01/17 DUI Sobriety Checkpoint – Hull Street and High Street area in Clinton. in conjunction with the Breath Alcohol Testing Mobile Unit.

01/01/17 Roving Patrols - Route 9 and Route 66 in Middletown, within Troop F patrol area

EASTERN

12/22/16 Roving Patrols – Interstate 84 and Routes 30, 32, 44, 74, 83, 190, 195 in towns of