The number of fatal collisions on state roads under the jurisdiction of the Connecticut State Police has decreased by nearly 30 percent through the end of July compared to the same period last year.
From Jan. 1 through July 31 of this year there were 49 fatal collisions on roads and highways patrolled by the Connecticut State Police, compared to 69 fatal collisions during the same period in 2024.
"I remain very concerned about reckless driving on Connecticut roadways, but these numbers are encouraging,' said DESPP Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins. "We are providing targeted enforcement to our most dangerous roads."
"Reducing fatal collisions has been a top priority since I took over as commissioner in late 2023," Higgins said. "Across the six divisions that make up DESPP, we are using data to drive our decisions as we work to prepare, protect, and strengthen our state every day."
The DESPP analysis found fatal collisions most often occurred on Mondays and Thursdays so far in 2025, with I-84 as the most frequent location. The fatal collisions most frequently occurred between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
"This very thorough analysis represents a significant reduction in the number of fatal collisions within State Police jurisdiction for the first seven months of this year. The focus of our Troopers to keep roads safe throughout Connecticut has resulted in these lower figures," said Colonel Daniel Loughman, Commanding Officer of the Connecticut State Police.
"I applaud our State Troopers who protect residents 24 hours a day, as their dedication to serving has benefitted all of us. Targeting operators who are driving recklessly is a priority as we continue to educate the public about the hazards of unsafe driving."
"Overall, I am happy to see counts of fatal collisions reducing in 2025 compared to the previous year," said Dr. Michael Mascari, DESPP's Chief Data Officer and Data Scientist. "Particularly in February, March, and April of 2025, we see large declines compared to 2024. It is important to continue monitoring trends regarding fatal collisions and use data to inform our actions."
According to the Connecticut Crash Data Repository at UConn, the number of Connecticut traffic deaths on all state roads has also declined compared to previous years. As of Aug. 12, there have been 143 total deaths in 2025, compared to 196 for the same period in 2024.
For more information, contact Rick Green, Director of Communications, at richard.green@ct.gov or 860-539-0159.
