Startling Increase In CT Wrong-Way Crashes Sparks New Campaign [VIDEO]

CONNECTICUT — Following a recent increase in wrong-way crashes and deaths, the state Department of Transportation is launching a new public awareness campaign officials hope will reverse the lethal trend.

The "One Wrong Move" campaign will be distributed through a variety of media outlets, including television, radio, online and billboards.

Wrong-way driving deaths in Connecticut are up 500 percent, and wrong-way driving crashes in Connecticut tripled in 2022. This includes 13 wrong-way crashes that resulted in 23 deaths, compared to 4 wrong-way crashes in 2021 and 2 in 2020. Studies have shown that wrong-way driving crashes are 100 times more likely to be fatal than other types of crashes, according to a news release from CT DOT.

"Reversing this trend requires a comprehensive approach that not only involves infrastructure upgrades using advanced technology – which we are doing – but also requires a heightened awareness by drivers every single time they are entering a highway," Gov. Ned Lamont said.

State officials are urging anyone who encounters a wrong-way driver to call 9-1-1 and report the location as soon as it's safe to do so. If a driver discovers they have entered a highway going in the wrong direction, they should immediately pull into the breakdown lane and change their direction when it is safe.

In July 2022, Lamont authorized the release of $20 million in state bond funding for CT DOT to purchase and install advanced wrong-way driving technology along the state’s highways and roads. This technology uses motion sensors to detect a driver entering a highway exit ramp from the wrong direction and rapidly flashes LED lights to notify them that they are driving the wrong way. So far, it has been installed and is currently operating at several high-risk ramps across Connecticut, including in:

• Colchester on Route 2 at Exit 17 eastbound;
• Groton on I-95 at Exit 88 southbound;
• Milford on I-95 at Exit 34;
• Montville on I-395 at Exit 6 northbound;
• Southington on I-84 at Exit 28 westbound, Exit 29 westbound, Exit 32 westbound, and Exit 32 eastbound;
• Windsor on Route 291 at Exit 5 westbound; and
• Norwich on I-395 at Exit 24 southbound.

In addition to these ramps, CT DOT plans to install this technology in dozens more locations over the course of this year. Some of the locations that are targeted to soon receive it are in:

• East Hartford on I-84 at the westbound HOV exit;
• Groton on I-95 at Exit 87 southbound;
• Meriden on Route 691 at Exit 8 eastbound;
• New Britain on Route 9 at Exit 25 northbound; and
• Windsor on Route 91 at the northbound HOV exit, Exit 42 northbound, and Exit 42 southbound.

Future installations of this technology will add the ability to notify Connecticut State Police in real time. CT DOT is also exploring additional mitigation measures, such as in-laid pavement reflectors, officials said Friday.

"Preventing these terrible tragedies requires a holistic approach, and public awareness is a key part of that strategy," said State Sen. Tony Hwang, who represents the 28th District and is a ranking member of the Transportation Committee. "Education can be highly impactful whether it is regarding prevention of impaired driving from alcohol and marijuana or prevention of wrong-way driving. This initiative can – and likely will – save lives, and that should be our common goal as Republicans and Democrats."

The “One Wrong Move” campaign is being funded by previously allocated money CT DOT received from the Federal Highway Administration.