As proved by feedback from residents at the recent pre-session legislative update with Newtown’s legislative delegation, as well as any particular Police Commission meeting, traffic is a huge Newtown concern. Both in the volume hitting its streets as well as high speed and distracted driving. Additionally, a perusal through the police reports published in The Newtown Bee every week shows a large number of accidents, particularly cars being rear-ended, most likely because the drivers were driving unsafely, too close, too fast, or too distracted on their phones.

January 21 to 28 is National Passenger Safety Week, a time to think about being more safe while driving. No one thinks they’re going to get into an accident when they exceed the posted speed by ten or more miles per hour, or when they take a moment to check that text that just arrived, or God forbid, decide to play a phone game or other shenanigans, but it does happen, and demonstrably often.

As part of the effort here in Connecticut, the Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is joining more than 60 traffic safety and advocacy groups across the country to remind passengers to “speak up” to the drivers of the vehicle. Reckless behaviors, speeding, impaired, and distracted driving are increasing, and government organizations and media telling people to drive safely is not enough.

By speaking up, passengers show they care about the lives of their friends and family in the vehicle, the people in other vehicles, and the people walking or riding on the street. Choosing to intervene could save a life.

In Connecticut in 2021, the last year of verifiable data, 298 people were killed in crashes, 119 people were killed in speeding-related crashes, 112 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes and nine people were killed in distracted driving-related crashes. Since 2015, there have been over 2,400 vehicle crashes in Connecticut involving a fatality.

“We need passengers to be safety advocates and feel empowered to SPEAK UP when confronted with an irresponsible driver. Passengers can stop a driver from getting behind the wheel when they’re impaired, they can tell the driver to slow down and put their seat belt on, and remind them to put the phone away,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “If a driver is being unsafe in any manner, passengers should SPEAK UP. Doing so could help prevent crashes and save lives.”

We Save Lives and The National Road Safety Foundation launched the National Passenger Safety Week campaign two years ago reminding passengers that they have a choice. The ongoing campaign aims to empower passengers to be safety advocates, so it becomes acceptable — even expected — for passengers to SPEAK UP when confronted with an irresponsible driver.

For more information about National Passenger Safety Week, visit nationalpassengersafety.org.

The Newtown Bee encourages all vehicle passengers to SPEAK UP when they see the vehicle driver engaging in unsafe practices. It could save your life, and theirs.

Additionally, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes and WestCOG recently announced that $3,959,346 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant from the US Department of Transportation had been allotted for 93 projects in western Connecticut. Newtown recently received money in October as part of a previous round of grants. Hopefully this money can be used to develop Newtown's roadways to better handle the traffic demands that are constantly being placed on it.