HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Connecticut State Police responded to more accidents and issued more tickets for distracted driving and speeding over this year’s New Year’s holiday than during the same period in 2015.
Increased enforcement began Thursday on the state’s roadways and ended at midnight on Sunday.
As of 8 a.m. Sunday, state police say troopers were dispatched to more than 175 total accidents. Trooper Kelly Grant says 20 of the crashes included injuries with one fatal. There were 158 accidents during the holiday period of 2015, including 28 with injuries and no deaths.
Troopers wrote 853 speeding tickets this holiday season along with 27 seatbelt violations. In 2015, 726 speeding tickets were issued and there were 22 seatbelt violations.
Despite the rise in accidents, there were nine less drunken driving arrests in 2016.