Tens of thousands of Connecticut drivers will be on the road tonight and tomorrow as we begin the long holiday weekend. Which means law enforcement is reminding drivers and those who want to celebrate the day.
“It was 3 a.m. and I got on the road at 5:30. I hit a lot of traffic in New York, it takes me almost an hour to get back on 84 north,” Jean Bishop said of her first commute Wednesday morning.
She is heading from Pennsylvania to Boston on the 4th.th July holidays.
“Yes, so far,” she said of how easily she started the day.
According to AAA, 87% of people in Connecticut traveling for the past 4th will be on the road. In Hartford, a YES checkpoint is already planned for this evening in anticipation of a busy weekend.
“We have traffic officers on duty throughout the weekend and beyond, we consider OUI enforcement a top priority here in the City of Hartford,” said Hartford Police Department Lt. Paul Cicero.
The city expects an influx of 10,000 to 12,000 people for the Hartford Bonanza, Yard Goats games, concerts and Independence Day celebrations.
“We have patrols that will be deployed throughout the city, and we have specialized teams, an entire traffic division and numerous officers that work special events, so we have several, probably 100 officers that are working,” Lt. Cicero said.
The increased patrols aren’t limited to Hartford. According to the Connecticut State Police, enforcement on major highways across the state will also be stepped up, as well as roving patrols, with officers looking for erratic, distracted, reckless or impaired drivers. A problem many drivers say is all too common.
“You just have to keep your eyes open. People cut you off and act like bikes don’t exist,” said Dave Robinson of Pennsylvania.
He asks other drivers to be careful on this vacation, especially around motorcycles. He is driving to New Hampshire and, because of the reckless driving, as he gets closer, he says, “I’m going to get off the highways and head into the mountains.”
State police also note that if you see a driver under the influence of alcohol or driving erratically, the first step should always be to call 911. And before you leave, remember that there are rideshare options or you can designate a driver.
