The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced today that speed feedback signs are being delivered to communities across Connecticut. These signs are mounted below a traditional speed limit sign and use radar to display a driver’s actual speed. A report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analyzing speed feedback signs found that of the sites studied, more than 90% of locations showed a reduction in speed, and approximately 60% locations showed slower speeds even after drivers passed the sign’s location.
The program began in 2020 in partnership with CT Training and Technical Assistance (T2) Center at the University of Connecticut to help control speeding in rural communities. It was then expanded in 2022 to include all 169 Connecticut municipalities and tribal communities. Free speed management training through Connecticut Safety Circuit Rider (SCR) is also included through this program. SCR helps municipalities identify low-cost safety improvements, assists with developing roadway safety plans, and more.
To date, 340 signs have been delivered, and through this next round, another 340 are expected to be installed. As a result of this program, speed feedback signs are now active in 97% of towns in Connecticut. CTDOT provides the funding for this important safety program.
“Speed feedback signs show drivers in real-time how fast they are traveling in relation to the road’s posted speed limit. That feedback has been proven to help slow them down, even after they pass the sign,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “We are thrilled to continue supporting this program and appreciate the partnership with the T2 Center to deliver these signs and help communities develop speed management programs to help keep people safe.”
Speeding remains a serious issue, and is particularly dangerous for vulnerable road users, such as bicyclists and pedestrians. The faster a car is moving, the more deadly it can be for a pedestrian. For example, a person hit by a car traveling 32 mph has a 25% risk of death, whereas if the vehicle was traveling 50 mph, the risk of death jumps to 75%. In 2023, the last year of verifiable data, Connecticut recorded 104 fatalities due to speeding.
Importantly, speed feedback signs do not have cameras that take pictures of vehicles or license plates and are not an enforcement tool. The signs use radar to capture a driver’s speed to display that on the sign. Speed feedback signs also collect information about how fast vehicles are traveling in a particular area, which helps municipalities know how to design the best infrastructure for every roadway.
For more information on the program, including additional resources available, visit https://www.cti.uconn.edu/cti/Safety_Circuit_Rider1.asp.