CTDOT Press Releases
10/18/2023
Connecticut Law Enforcement Launches Statewide Campaign to Crack Down on Distracted Driving
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Highway Safety Office, along with state and local law enforcement, has announced today that law enforcement officers will increase enforcement and pull over texting and distracted drivers during this high-visibility effort to enforce texting and distracted driving laws from October 15-31, 2023.
In Connecticut in 2022, there were nearly 5,200 crashes attributed to distracted driving.
“Everyone should understand the incredible risk of texting while driving. Taking your eyes off the road for a moment is all it takes to cause a crash and change lives forever,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “For the remaining days of October, our state will see an increased and highly visible law enforcement presence on our roadways with officers stopping and ticketing anyone driving distracted. If you have a phone in your hand, expect to be stopped and issued a ticket.”
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,522 lives in 2021 nationally, the last year of verifiable data.
Over the past decade, distracted driving has become one of the nation’s leading causes of vehicle crashes. At any moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using or manipulating electronic devices while driving – a number that has held steady for over a decade.
“Remember, no text or call is worth a life,” added Eucalitto. “When you’re behind the wheel, stay focused on the road in front of you – not your phone.”
To prevent tragedies due to distracted driving, everyone should:
- Turn off electronic devices and put them out of reach before starting to drive.
- Be good role models for young drivers and set a good example. Talk with your teens about responsible driving.
- Speak up when a driver uses an electronic device behind the wheel. Offer to make the call for the driver, so their full attention stays on the road.
- Always wear your seat belt. Seat belts are your best defense against unsafe drivers.
- Be alert for pedestrians and cyclists. Remember that you are sharing the road with others who are not in a vehicle. Their lives are your responsibility.
Connecticut law prohibits the use of any hand-held mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers who are 16- or 17- years old are prohibited from using a cell phone or mobile device at any time, even with a hands-free accessory.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation urges everyone to put their phones down when they get behind the wheel. Pull over and park in a safe place if you need to send a text.
Violating Connecticut’s distracted-driving laws can be costly. Ticketed drivers are fined $200 for the first offense, $375 for the second offense, and $625 for the third and subsequent offenses.
For more information, visit nhtsa.gov.
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