April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. It is also a month when more people in Connecticut are expected to start driving more as restrictions on workplaces and other indoor gatherings ease. That probably means more distracted drivers will be on the state’s highways and city streets in the coming weeks.
To combat this, local law enforcement and the Connecticut State Police have launched “U drive. U text. U pay.” This is a special enforcement campaign targeting distracted drivers that will last the rest of April. Among other things, the operation involves officers posted in tall trucks and hills peering down into vehicles for signs of distracted driving.
Distracted driving laws in Connecticut
As our readers know, using your cellphone by hand while driving is against the law in Connecticut. It is also a primary traffic offense, which means that a police officer can pull over a driver and write them a ticket for things like texting and driving. Hands-free use is allowed, except for drivers aged 16 and 17.
Despite efforts like this, distracted drivers are still a problem in Connecticut. According to the state department of transportation, in 2019, distracted driving caused more than 6,000 car accidents and 11 deaths. Those numbers are small compared to larger states but are still far too high.
What to do after a distracted driving crash
Hopefully, you will not get hurt in a crash caused by a distracted driver this month or ever. But if it does happen to you, you may face a complicated process for getting reasonable compensation from the insurance company. The best way of making the process faster and more fair to you is to work with an experienced personal injury attorney.
