Drivers who use cell phones in the car, tailgaters, speeders and anyone else who believes traffic laws are merely suggestions – beware! State troopers have started targeting careless drivers on I-91 and I-84 in the greater Hartford area, state police announced today.
The State Police "Traffic Enforcement Initiative" started at 5 a.m. this morning. The effort is supposed to make highways safer and reduce the number of accidents, said state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance.
"Our goal is not to hand out tickets. Our goal is to educate the public that compliance with motor vehicle laws is an absolute must for highway safety," Vance said.
He said the initiative is a result of numerous complaints from residents about drivers speaking into a cell phone while driving, people weaving in and out of traffic, cars using the shoulder to pass other cars and other dangerous driving practices on the highways, Vance said.
Accidents caused by reckless driving also prompted the initiative, Vance said. State police have seen car crashes on I-91 near the Colt building in Hartford, tunnels on I-84 in Hartford and curves on the highway in West Hartford, he said.
"We get accidents whether the roads are dry, wet – regardless of road conditions," Vance said.
Troopers will patrol the highways in traditional cruisers looking for traffic law violators. But they will also use non-traditional cruisers that, Vance said, "look like a normal family car." The initiative will remain active for an indefinite period of time.
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