Connecticut has seen the highest increase among U.S. states in alcohol-related death rates. Rather than making progress in decreasing the amount of these fatalities, Connecticut nearly tripled from 2012 to 2022 from 4.5 to 12 per 100,000 people, representing a 166.67% increase, according to a study conducted by Lantana Recovery. And, approximately 40% of motor vehicle fatalities are caused by impaired driving.
We must do more to prevent and stop those who are under the influence of alcohol and drugs from getting behind the wheel.
Nearly four years ago, I was almost another fatality in this statistic.
In September 2020, while traveling southbound on Interstate 91, a driver who had consumed nearly a dozen drinks made the choice to drive. Their impairment caused them to collide into my SUV, sending me soaring across three lanes of traffic landing upside down.
Two years almost to the day of night, I had the opportunity to watch my wife walk down the aisle and four years almost to the day, I will welcome my first child.
I was lucky to be able to undo my seatbelt and crawl out of the crash through my rear window without major injuries. But there are too many others who will never realize their life’s potential or celebrate the milestones ahead because of someone’s decision to drink and drive.
There’s no question that we are in the midst of a mental health crisis. That crisis is compounded by substance use, increased distractions, and often confusing road designs, leading to more and more tragedies on our roads. Connecticut ranks third nationally in fatalities due to impaired driving. It’s why we all know someone who was killed by a drunk driver, a wrong-way driver, or have been involved in a car accident ourselves.
These fatalities are almost always preventable. We can reduce these statistics with the partnership of state and local law enforcement, automakers, healthcare providers, mental health professionals, transportation leaders, and lawmakers.
Connecticut is set to receive $1.3 billion over five years under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve public transit across the state and $4.1 billion over five years in federal funding for highways and bridges.
Throughout our state, DOT has deemed over a third of the ramps on our highways as “high risk” for dangerous incidents. By seizing this moment to reimagine and rebuild our transportation infrastructure, we can actively prevent tragedies by improving road clarity, reducing wrong-way collisions, and curbing pedestrian-related deaths through road diets (or roadway reconfigurations) and pedestrian-focused accommodations such as islands or raised median strips.
Also tucked within the infrastructure bill are improved technology requirements that are expected to prevent more than 9,400 drunk driving deaths annually. This technology, which should be standard by 2026, will detect the driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and prevent the car from starting if they are over the limit.
We can also address this issue through greater collaboration with state and local police, more training and tools such as wrong-way detectors that also notify local law enforcement, even if it’s on a state road.
Many states, including Connecticut, have proposed changing BAC limits, which has proven to be successful in states that have adopted this change. Utah was the first in the nation to adopt this measure and has seen a 20% drop in traffic-related injuries, crashes, and drunk driving, which is a drastic reversal when compared to our rapid increase. Lowering the limit will help deter drivers from drinking and driving and hopefully ensure they plan more carefully.
Lastly, we need to have an honest conversation about our mental health and the impact of alcohol and other substances. While we are diligently working on addressing the decades-long opioid epidemic, our opinions of and behavior around alcohol is vastly different. By talking more openly about these issues and supporting greater funding for mental health treatment and substance abuse and recovery, we can help identify issues more proactively, make people feel comfortable rather than being judged for seeking help, which can save their life and someone else’s too.
I don’t know what our world or roadways will look like when my child eventually gets behind the wheel, but I know that if we truly work to reverse these dangerous trends, I am hopeful and optimistic that no one will have to worry about their next drive or walk being their last one.
Rob Blanchard is the Democratic candidate for the 28th Senate District, which includes Bethel, Easton, Fairfield and Newtown. He currently serves on the Fairfield Representative Town Meeting (RTM).
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