Sen. Hwang: Spike in tragic crashes highlights “crisis” on CT roads

For Immediate Release

Sen. Tony Hwang, the Ranking Senator on the Transportation Committee, today issued the following statement regarding Connecticut State Police reporting that nine people have died since Friday and four others have suffered serious injuries in seven crashes reported in cities and towns scattered around the state.

“This is tragic – what we are seeing is a crisis on our roadways,” Sen. Hwang stated, underscoring the importance of common sense and respect for road rules. “Last year, I had a chance to talk to a parent from MADD who lost their child 25 years ago. It was as if they lost him yesterday. People who have lost loved ones in a preventable tragedy, such as traffic deaths, are still living it many years later.

“More work must be done to prevent traffic deaths. At the State Capitol, we have passed the ‘Vision Zero’ safety law and wrong-way driving prevention legislation.  But we need to keep moving the needle.  That means further addressing impaired driving and distracted driving, as well as speeding. That means supporting law enforcement and recruiting more people to serve in law enforcement. We can pass all the laws we want, but ultimately, it’s called common sense and a respect for yourself and others on the road to protect and ensure safety.”