Highway Safety
Our drive is to save lives. The CTDOT’s Highway Safety Office has one mission – to keep our roadways safe. We work to prevent fatalities and injuries that result from crashes related to driver behavior.
Our Highway Safety Specialist, Bob Dahill, shares that his big goal aligns with this mission: reducing the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on the roadways. In conjunction with the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office, Bob has some advice and information for you on ways to tackle these issues.
Reach out to Robert Dahill: [email protected]
Senior Safe Driving Classes
SCRCOG is pleased to be partnering with AARP in co-sponsoring their Senior Safe Driver Safety class. Connecticut drivers could earn a 5% discount on their auto insurance for 2 years after taking the AARP Smart Driver™ course.
Please contact Brent Bleveille [email protected] for further information.
SCRCOG has partnered with AAA Northeast to publish a Senior’s Safe Driving brochure “Older, Wiser, and Now a Better Driver”. The brochure highlights safe driving tips for Seniors and the opportunity to save 5% on their automobile insurance policy by successfully completing the AAA Safe Driving Course. To download the brochure, please follow the link below:
SCRCOG/AAA Senior’s Safe Driving Brochure
Please contact Adelle Zocher [email protected] for further information
Both the AAA Northeast and the AARP Senior Safe Driving Classes are being offered for free courtesy of Conn Department of Transportation CT DOT in conjunction with SCRCOG.
Click Here to access Connecticut Defensive Driving Course AAA Northeast
Watch for Me CT
We all share the responsibility to keep our roadways safe. To save lives, we must watch out for each other. Watch For Me CT is a statewide campaign aimed at reducing the number of injuries and fatalities on our roadways through awareness, education, and enforcement. The program provides educational materials to leaders such as elected officials, pedestrian and bicycle advocates, city planners, law enforcement agencies, educators, the media, influencers, and parents.
For further information please contact Amy Watkins at: [email protected]
Manage Space
- Increase your following distance
- Avoid driving late at night
- Always use turn signals
- Choose routes that are familiar, well-lit, and lightly traveled, if possible
- Watch for motorcyclists, bicyclists, or pedestrians who may not see you
- Use high beams when no one is in front of the vehicle and low beams during the day
Intersection Safety
Seniors should take special caution at intersections, where they are more likely to be invovled in a crash than drivers under 65.
Older drivers may be less able to judge the speed of an oncoming vehicle- which is crucial for making left turns
(Data Source: UConn Crash Data Repository)
Medication
Did you know that if you’re in a crash while impaired by medication, you can be chared with DUI?
As we age, it’s increasingly likely that we’ll face health conditions that require medications, so it is important to understand how medications affect driving.
Mixing any medicines – prescriptions, OTC, herbal supplements, or medical and recreational cannabis – can directly affect your ability to operate a vehicle.