The holidays are here and the Connecticut State Police are enforcing a driving program to keep residents and drivers safe on Thanksgiving weekend.
State police are trying to reduce crashes this weekend by enforcing through Monday Operation C.A.R.E..
State police will increase patrols of roads and highways across the state, police said. The main focus will be on drunk, aggressive and unsafe drivers.
There were 562 car accidents, 92 with injuries and one fatality over the 2013 holidays, according to state police enforcement statistics. There were also 43 driving while intoxicated arrests and 1,134 speeding tickets issued.
“As the holidays approach, we see a lot more social interactions, hence more people consuming alcohol,” said Lt.Paul Vance, a spokesman for the state police. “So we see a spike in alcohol-related incidents.”
DUI check points in store for Danbury.
Along with normal roving patrols, uniformed troopers will be driving unmarked patrol cars to watch traffic throughout the weekend. Police are also asking anyone who sees a suspected drunken driver to call 911.
The Danbury Police Department applied for a federal grant earlier this month to fund more roving patrols and DUI checkpoints starting the week before Thanksgiving.
Danbury Police will team with State Troop A to hold a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday on the Lake Avenue highway exit in Danbury. Officers and troopers will be assembled between Interstate 84 westbound on the exit 4 off-ramp and eastbound exit 4 on-ramp.