The Connecticut Department of Transportation mentioned they’ve recognized over 200 high-risk on ramps, be it from darkness and even being near a bar, that would be the focus of expanded cautionary wrong-way alert and expertise.

“I always try and anticipate, but also think how would I want somebody to drive around me knowing that I have my kids in my car,” April Dews, of Bristol, mentioned.

This previous June, the state legislature voted unanimously to additional fight wrong-way driving within the state.

“At the beginning of the legislative session, we lost one of our dear colleagues to a wrong-way crash,” Sen. Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) mentioned. “It only further excited us to make sure we did something to address this.”

This week, CT DOT started putting in the brand new expertise.

“I’ve actually seen new signage and it’s big and it’s pronounced, so it’s something you can’t miss,” Julia Smith, of Bristol, mentioned.

The state-funded $40 million initiative builds off a pilot program that started in 2022, the place DOT put in wrong-way indicators and warning lights at quite a few on-ramps.

“Instead of the red lights being on top of the sign, the whole outside of the sign will have the red lights. The wrong-way sign itself will be illuminated, the wrong way letters, and there will be a detection to notify state police,” DOT spokesperson Josh Morgan mentioned.

“When somebody enters the ramp there’s a primary detection zone which prompts the signal, after which a second detection zone in the event that they hold going up the freeway that may notify state police,” he continued.

The DOT mentioned 2022 was Connecticut’s deadliest 12 months because of wrong-way driving. The 23 fatalities greater than tripled that of 2021.

“There’s been a lot of accidents lately, so anything that can be done to help is good,” Tom Mulhearn, of Southington, mentioned.

So far in 2023, DOT studies six deaths because of wrong-way driving. Morgan mentioned that primarily based on state information, there’s one motive that stands above the remainder.

“Virtually every wrong-way driver is found to be impaired by alcohol, so we’ll do our part, police will do their part, but we need the public to do their part and that’s to drive sober each and every time,” Morgan mentioned.

He added that down the highway, DOT is planning to put in rumble strips in the direction of the start of wrong-way on-ramps in an effort to additional alert drivers.