Connecticut
CT seeks to lower drunk driving threshold. Here’s what the new BAC threshold would be.
With numerous wrong-way crashes and fatalities on Connecticut highways, state lawmakers called Wednesday for making it easier to arrest drunken drivers.
The legislature’s transportation committee is debating a bill that calls for reducing the drunken driving arrest threshold to 0.05% blood alcohol content, down from the current .08.
Thomas B. Chapman of the National Transportation Safety Board testified via Zoom in favor of lowering the limit, a position by the NTSB since 2013. Utah became the first state to do so in 2018 and has seen a drop in fatalities.
Dropping the level, Chapman said, would lower the death rate by an estimated 11%. Like Connecticut, other states that are currently considering .05 are Hawaii, Washington, New York, North Carolina and others.
“We are an outlier,” Chapman said, referring to the United States. “Over 100 countries in the world have .05 or lower … That includes much of Europe, where drinking is part of the culture. What is not part of the culture is drinking and driving. … You are impaired at .05. … There is a demonstrable diminishment in cognitive and physical skills at that level.”
Noting that some drivers would not be deterred and would ignore lower levels, Chapman said, “.05 is not the entire answer on this. It is a piece of the answer.”
Nationally, 13,384 people died in the United States in alcohol-related crashes in 2021, the most recent year where complete numbers are available. That includes 112 alcohol-related deaths in Connecticut.
State transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, testifying remotely Wednesday from a transportation meeting in Philadelphia, said, “What we have been doing as a state has not been working. … Drunk driving is a reckless choice made by the driver. … Everyone is impaired at .05. I know some people might argue with that … but the science is clear.”
Saying that Connecticut could emulate Utah, Eucalitto said the change to .05 did not decrease tourism or alcohol sales in Utah.
Marijuana impact
While the impact of drunken driving has been well documented for years, state legislators are also questioning the influence of the recent decriminalization of marijuana in Connecticut. Drivers smoking pot become impaired, and police have complained repeatedly that they do not have a simple test for marijuana in the way they can measure blood levels for alcohol.
Marijuana has been involved in some fatal accidents, and both drivers had traces of marijuana in their blood in the wrong-way crash last year that killed state Rep. Quentin “Q” Williams of Middletown after he left the governor’s inaugural ball in Hartford.
Rep. Thomas O’Dea, a New Canaan Republican, said lawmakers need to focus closely on the impact of cannabis on car crashes.
“That’s the elephant in the room in my opinion,” O’Dea said. “My biggest problem is the marijuana laws in Connecticut.”
Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant
Sen. Tony Hwang of Fairfield is concerned about drivers who have been smoking marijuana and got involved in car crashes.
State Sen. Tony Hwang of Fairfield, the committee’s ranking Senate Republican, said the combination of marijuana and alcohol can be deadly.
“Impairment of any kind is part of the danger on the roads,” Hwang told Chapman. “If we only handle one part and not address the other, it may be a half-completed task. … If you lack common sense, you’re still going to have violators on the roads.”
Chapman responded that alcohol remains the biggest problem, but there is an “increasing prevalence of other impairing substances” that include marijuana.
“It is a growing problem — one that we are concerned about,” Chapman said. “It’s not as easy to test these other substances.”
He noted that airplane pilots have an even higher standard that keeps the skies safe. He noted that pilots avoid alcohol before flying under the mantra of “eight hours from bottle to throttle.”
State Rep. Devin Carney, an Old Lyme Republican, said, “We talk about Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, but we don’t talk about Big Alcohol.”
In an attempt to reduce crashes, the committee voted last year to lower the blood alcohol level for arrest. The measure passed by 21-15 with Republicans and Democrats on both sides of the bipartisan issue. The bill, however, never passed in the state House of Representatives and Senate before time expired.
The measure is part of a broader plan to reduce a skyrocketing number of fatalities on Connecticut roads. Legislators were stunned at 366 deaths on the roads in 2022 — about one per day. The statistics show that 2022 was the worst year on Connecticut roads since 1989. While fatalities dipped to 323 last year, the accidents are continuing this year.
If approved, Connecticut would follow Utah as the second state in the nation at .05. The national standard is .08 that states have enacted in order to avoid losing funding for federal highway construction. As a result, Connecticut is currently at the same level as nearby New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
Wednesday marked the committee’s final public hearing of the 2024 legislative session as nearly 60 people signed up to testify. No decisions were made Wednesday, but all bills are subject to final approval by the full House of Representatives and state Senate before the regular session adjourns on May 8.
Statistics
Besides .05, the committee is working on overall traffic safety, including the deaths of pedestrians and a rash of wrong-way crashes on the highways.
In 2022, the 366 overall deaths were the highest in 33 years. Another peak in 2022 was 73 pedestrian fatalities, compared to 55 pedestrians in 2019 and 2021 and 51 last year.
Motorcycle deaths have claimed 68, 66, and 62 lives over the past three years, up sharply from 49 in 2019.
Wrong-way crashes also peaked in 2022 with 13 accidents that led to 23 fatalities, the highest total by far in recent years. Last year, the total dropped back down to 7 fatalities — still above the levels of four each in 2020 and 2021.
Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com
DALLAS (WTNH) — A New London-based group is partnering with a Texas-based restaurant planning to open its first locations in Connecticut.
New London Hospitality has signed a new area development agreement with Twin Hospitality Group Inc., the parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant, for the development rights of three future locations in the state, according to a press release from Twin Peaks.
The release lists New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury and Stamford or Bridgeport as potential markets.
According to the release, New London Hospitality is run by Deepak Verma and Kam Singh, who have experience in the hospitality industry and have worked with major hotel brands including Hilton, Red Roof Inn and Choice Hotels.
“Deepak and Kam bring a powerful combination of hospitality expertise and operational discipline,” Twin Peaks CEO Kim Boerema said in the release. “Their experience growing multi-unit concepts makes them ideal partners as we enter Connecticut. We are confident they will help anchor Twin Peaks as a new favorite for sports fans throughout the state.”
Twin Peaks describes itself as “the ultimate sports lodge featuring made-from-scratch food and the coldest beer in the business, surrounded by scenic views and wall-to-wall TVs. At every Twin Peaks, guests are immediately welcomed by a friendly Twin Peaks Girl and served up a menu made for MVPs.”
“Twin Peaks delivers everything guests want in a sports bar — scratch-made food, 29-degree draft beer, and the best place to catch every game,” Verma said. “We look forward to introducing the brand’s signature lodge experience and welcoming Twin Peaks girls to Connecticut, establishing a new home base for local sports fans and food enthusiasts.”
Twin Peaks was founded in 2005 in Lewisville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. There are 114 locations in the United States and Mexico. The closest location to Connecticut is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — As Friday’s stormy weather brings strong rains and damaging winds, the Connecticut Department of Transportation and local agencies are reporting the following alerts.
Stormy Friday Weather
RELATED
Note: Not every alert can be attributed to weather.
Current Traffic Alerts:
- NEW HAVEN – Two-vehicle crash on Route 15 southbound between Exits 46 and 42B. The right lane is closed. Reported at 3:28 p.m.
- OLD SAYBROOK – Route 154 (Main Street) closed in both directions between Willard Ave Ext. and Cromwell Ave because of tree down with wires. Reported Friday, December 19 at 2:20 pm.
- PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed # 105 Norwich Road and Kinney Hill Road for tree in wires. Reported at 12:31 p.m.
- PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed in both directions at Arbor Lane due to a pole down in wires. Reported at 12:25 p.m.
- N. STONINGTON – Route 184 (Providence New London Turnpike) closed in both directions at Rt 49 (Pendelton Hill Road) because of tree down. Reported at 12:11 p.m.
- COLCHESTER – Colchester Route 85 New London Road closed between Lake Hayward Road and West Road because of Wires Down. Reported at 12:04 p.m.
- UNION – Route 171 closed at Route 197 and Rindge Road for a tree down in wires. Reported at 12:02 p.m.
- DEEP RIVER – Route 80 (Winthrop Road) closed in both directions between Cedar Swamp Road and Bahr Road because of a tree down. Reported at 11:58 a.m.
- OXFORD – Route 67 is closed at Route 42 for wires and a transformer down. Reported at 11:49 a.m.
- LEBANON – Lebanon RT-207 Exeter Road is closed at Clubhouse Road because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 11:46 a.m.
- NORTH BRANFORD – Route 17 northbound and southbound at the intersection of Rt 22 is closed. Utility work in area. Reported at 11:47 a.m.
- BRANFORD – Localized flooding is currently occurring in multiple areas of town.
- SEYMOUR – Fire officials are asking people to avoid Highland Avenue and Gilyard Street because a large tree has snapped a telephone pole. Please use alternate routes.
- MIDDLETOWN – Multiple businesses without power.
- EAST LYME – Route 161 (Flanders Road) closed in both directions at Society Road because of pole down with wires. Reported at 11:50 a.m.
- EAST LYME – Tree down on powerlines on West Main Street, Niantic (Rte. 156) in the area of #278. Roadway is currently closed at Douglas Avenue and Four Mile intersection. Eversource has been notified. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
- MANSFIELD – Route 195 is closed at Ledgewood Drive for a tree down across the road. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
- GUILFORD – Route 146 Leetes Island Road closed in both directions between Wingate Road and Moose Hill Road because of a tree down with wires. Reported at 11:44 a.m.
- THOMPSON – Thompson Route 193/Thompson Road is closed between Route 12/Riverside Drive and Robbins Road because of a Tree Down. Reported Friday, December 19 at 11:36 am.
- COLCHESTER – Colchester Route16/Middletown Road is closed between Bigelow Road and Victoria Drive because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
- HARWINTON – Harwinton Route 4/Burlington Road closed between Harmony Hill Road and Route 72 Terryville Road because of a tree down with wires on the road. A fire was also reported. Reported at 9:14 a.m.
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Doctors are voicing concerns on the rising number of flu cases, including a new strain some are referring to as the “super flu,” as many are gathering indoors with loved ones for the holiday season.
With Christmas just a week away, Dr. Ulysses Wu, the chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said there are growing concerns over the new H3N2 flu strain.
“We had a very late flu season this year, but we’re making up for it like gang busters,” Dr. Wu said. “What’s happening with this one is, this has changed a bit, making it a little bit more infectious. It invades our immune system a little bit more, and that’s why we’re seeing a rise in cases.”
The most notable jump in the U.S. has been happening in New York City, with 14,000 cases reported in the first week of December. That is a 460% jump from the same time last year, according to the state flu tracker.
Dr. Wu warned that, because of its location, Connecticut is at risk to see a jump in flu cases.
“Remember, we’re sandwiched between New York and Boston, and we do have our share of travelers and commuters as well,” Dr. Wu said. “Our rates have certainly increased and that’s to be expected.”
Dr. Wu recommended that it is best to listen to medical professionals when it comes to the flu vaccine and the new H3N2 strain.
“So people are saying, ‘Oh well it’s changed, the vaccine isn’t going to work.’ It is still going to work,” Dr. Wu explained. “The whole point is to modulate the course of the disease so it’s not as severe.
Dr. Wu said that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are also up among children and older adults in Connecticut. When it comes to holiday celebrations, Dr. Wu recommends using common sense — wash your hands, stay home if you are sick and get vaccinated if you haven’t been already.
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