The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is joining transportation agencies, safety advocates, and community partners across the country in recognizing National Passenger Safety Week, taking place January 19-26, 2026. This important initiative, led by We Save Lives and The National Road Safety Foundation, focuses on empowering passengers to speak up and intervene when they encounter unsafe driving behaviors.
While drivers play a critical role in roadway safety, passengers also have the ability and responsibility to help prevent crashes. Speeding, impaired driving, failure to wear seat belts, and distracted driving continue to be major contributors to serious and fatal crashes in Connecticut and nationwide. A timely comment or firm refusal to ride with an unsafe driver can save lives.
In Connecticut in 2023, the last year of verifiable data, 308 people were killed in crashes. Of those, 104 people were killed in speeding-related crashes, and 113 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes.
“Passengers are often the last line of defense when dangerous decisions are made behind the wheel,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “Speaking up, whether to stop someone from driving impaired, to slow down, to buckle up, or to put the phone away, can prevent a tragedy. National Passenger Safety Week reminds us that silence can be deadly, and action can save lives.”
“Safey needs to be paramount each time you’re in the car, whether you’re the driver or a passenger. If you feel unsafe, speak up,” said Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicle Commissioner Tony Guerrera. “Speaking up may feel uncomfortable in the moment but could save your life.”
National crash data underscores the importance of passenger intervention. In 2023, an estimated 3,275 people were killed in crashes that involved distracted drivers, and 324,819 were injured. Additionally, in 2023, there were 10,484 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes and 12,429 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths.
National Passenger Safety Week highlights the significant role passengers play in reducing these numbers and promotes the Courage to Intervene Promise, which encourages individuals to:
- Stop drivers from driving buzzed, drunk, or drugged.
- Refuse to ride with impaired drivers.
- Discourage drivers from using cell phones while driving.
- Intervene to prevent unsafe driving, prioritizing safety for everyone on the road.
CTDOT is committed to reducing roadway fatalities and empowering passengers to take an active role in promoting safety.
For more information about National Passenger Safety Week and how you can make a difference, visit nationalpassengersafety.org.