Tag:

Distracted Driving

New AAA Survey Finds CT Drivers Addicted To Speeding, Causing Fatal Crashes New AAA Survey Finds CT Drivers Addicted To Speeding, Causing Fatal Crashes
New AAA Survey Finds CT Drivers Addicted To Speeding, Causing Fatal Crashes A new report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety will have you putting away that phone and forgetting about speeding when you see the sobering statistics.  The foundation conducted its annual survey of drivers about their habits behind the wheel and found that American drivers are addicted to speeding, increasing the odds of dying in a crash. The survey polls drivers about their habits behind the wheel. This year, drivers were grouped into six categories by analyzing patterns of self-reported risky driving behaviors, and just over 4 in 10 respondents were classified as “Safe Drive…
18-Year-Old Drove Drunk, Crashed Vehicle In Connecticut, Police Report 18-Year-Old Drove Drunk, Crashed Vehicle In Connecticut, Police Report
18-Year-Old Drove Drunk, Crashed Vehicle In Connecticut, Police Report An 18-year-old man is facing charges after police said he drove drunk in Fairfield County and lost control of his vehicle. Officers responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash on Scofield Farm Road in Darien at about 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, the Darien Police Department reported on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The driver, identified as Sebastian Urrea, of Westport, told police he was lost and when he tried to make a U-turn, he lost control of the vehicle and struck a utility box, police reported. An officer reported smelling an alcoholic beverage while talking to Urrea, authorities …
CT State Police Announce Sites For Holiday DUI Checkpoints/Safety Tips CT State Police Announce Sites For Holiday DUI Checkpoints/Safety Tips
CT State Police Announce Sites For Holiday DUI Checkpoints/Safety Tips Connecticut State Police have a message for residents planning a holiday trip -- ditch distractions while driving, plan your trip, and never drink and drive. To help with all of the hustle and bustle, the department is offering tips on how to arrive at your safely, and where there will be DUI checkpoints. The tips include: 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. Refrain from texting or using your phone. Never consume alcoholic beverages, marijuana products, or drugs, including medicatio…
Woman Charged After Bicyclist Killed In Crash In Region Woman Charged After Bicyclist Killed In Crash In Region
Woman Charged After Bicyclist Killed In Crash In Region A Western Massachusetts woman who struck and killed a bicyclist will face charges of negligent motor vehicle homicide, authorities said. Hampshire County resident Haley Kelly-Sherette, age 23, of Williamsburg, will be arraigned Friday, Nov. 5 in connection with the death of 69-year-old Charles Braun.  The investigation revealed Kelly-Sherette failed to stop for a stop sign as she used Facetime while driving, said Laurie Loisel, director of communications for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. Braun, of Northampton, who was bicycling west on Elm Street, passing…
Man Accused Of Leaving Scene Of CT Crash, Police Say Man Accused Of Leaving Scene Of CT Crash, Police Say
Man Accused Of Leaving Scene Of CT Crash, Police Say A Fairfield County man has been arrested for allegedly crashing a vehicle and leaving the scene. Emmanuel Segarra-Otero, age 30, of Stamford, was arrested on Friday, Aug. 6, after turning himself in to New Canaan in connection with the crash which took place on Saturday, June 12, on the Merritt Parkway, said New Canaan Police Lt. Jason Ferraro. According to Ferraro, when officers arrived at the single-vehicle crash site, they located an unoccupied vehicle that had crashed into the guardrail on Old Stamford Road. A subsequent investigation determined that Otero was the operator an…
Mass. Bans Texting While Stopped At Red Light - 5 Things To Know About New Hands-Free Law Mass. Bans Texting While Stopped At Red Light - 5 Things To Know About New Hands-Free Law
Mass. Bans Texting While Stopped At Red Light - 5 Things To Know About New Hands-Free Law Under the new Massachusetts “hands-free” law, a driver can be fined $500 for using a mobile device while operating a vehicle. The law went into effect on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Massachusetts Hands-Free Driving Law prohibits the use of any electronic device - including mobile telephones - unless the device is being used in hands-free mode. And it’s not just the action of texting and driving the new law bans. Clicking around a GPS navigation screen while on the road is also prohibited. Here are five things every driver should know about the hands-free law in Massachusetts: 1. DON’T TOUCH IT Ho…
CT State Police To Ramp Up Enforcement For Holidays CT State Police To Ramp Up Enforcement For Holidays
CT State Police To Ramp Up Enforcement For Holidays Connecticut State Police are planning heightened patrols during the holiday season, per usual, to catch drunk drivers and prevent snow-caused accidents.  “Weather conditions can change rapidly this time of year. We ask all drivers to please heed any weather precautions prior to leaving for their destination. The safety of everyone on the road should remain your top priority,” noted Colonel Stavros Mellekas, commanding officer of the Connecticut State Police. He added: “While on patrol, Troopers will focus on distracted driving and those who may be operating under the influence. Please,…
Woman Charged With DUI After Crashing Into Parked PD Cruiser, Police Say Woman Charged With DUI After Crashing Into Parked PD Cruiser, Police Say
Woman Charged With DUI After Crashing Into Parked PD Cruiser, Police Say An inebriated woman distracted by her cellphone allegedly plowed into the back of a police cruiser that had pulled another driver over on Post Road. The Town of Fairfield Police officer was outside his vehicle, speaking with the driver of the vehicle he had pulled over for speeding at about 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20 when the crash took place, according to the Fairfield Police Department.  The vehicle, a 2010 Ford Edge, driven by 68-year-old Sharon Elizabeth Lipp of Milford, reportedly swerved across both travel lanes after impact, coming to rest in the opposite lane of oncoming tr…
Hartford Police Chief Ordered To Pay For City Car Damages; Investigation Ongoing Hartford Police Chief Ordered To Pay For City Car Damages; Investigation Ongoing
Hartford Police Chief Ordered To Pay For City Car Damages; Investigation Ongoing The Hartford Police Chief is being ordered to pay thousands of dollars to repair damage to his city-issued vehicle following a May traffic accident that is still under investigation. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said Monday, July 13, that Police Chief Jason Thody will pay about $3,300 to cover damages resulting from when Thody struck a guardrail in his Chevrolet Tahoe on Route 154 near the Chester-Haddam line. Bronin released a letter July 13 recounting the events of the incident and outlining discipline - restitution and the filing of the mayor’s letter in Thody’s personnel file. Although T…
June ‘Deadliest’ Month For CT Teen Drivers, AAA Warns June ‘Deadliest’ Month For CT Teen Drivers, AAA Warns
June ‘Deadliest’ Month For CT Teen Drivers, AAA Warns As the summer driving season unofficially kicks off, officials with AAA are cautioning Connecticut parents as well as teenagers that distracted driving can be fateful as the “100 Deadliest Days” begin. AAA said that June is the "deadliest" month for teen drivers in Connecticut, with the most cases of crashes in any month between 2015 and 2019, according to the UConn Crash Data Repository.  Nationally, more than 8,300 people died in teen-related summertime crashes between 2008 and 2018, representing more than seven people a day each summer, research from the AAA Foundation for Traf…