Pedestrians, Cyclists Gaining Attention as Deadly Vehicle Crashes Climb

As nearly everyone who has been driving, cycling or walking on a Connecticut roadway since the pandemic began to recede will tell you, speeds have picked up, recklessness has increased, and the distractions and accompanying dangers are ever-present.

Now a new documentary by a local filmmaker and a new study involving the University of Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) are taking a closer look, near and far.

According to CT DOT, the number of pedestrians killed has more than doubled in Connecticut since 2011.  Data reported earlier this year by the CT Mirror indicated that there were 26 pedestrian deaths in Connecticut in 2011, 44 I 2012, and 37 in 2013.  That compares with these numbers a decade later:  57 in 2019, 63 in 2020 and 65 in 2021.

This summer pedestrians were struck, and some killed, in Southington, Bridgeport, Wethersfield, Wallingford, Meriden, Southington and Bristol, according to published reports.  In September, pedestrians in Wallingford and East Granby were involved in serious-injury crashes, and a 9-year-old was injured after being hit by a car in Hartford. 

The website Watch for Me CT, part of a statewide safety campaign spearheaded by CT DOT and the Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center, points out that each year, about 1,500 pedestrians and 550 bicyclists are hit by cars on Connecticut roadways, leading to serious injuries and fatalities.

Anthony Cherolis of BikeWalkCT told the Mirror that it’s not only on highways where speeding has increased – drivers are speeding and running red lights on major municipal roads as well, where more pedestrian accidents tend to occur.

Connecticut Public Act No. 21-28, a law that took effect a year ago, granted the right-of-way to pedestrians who “affirmatively indicate their intention to cross the road in a crosswalk” and  increased the fines for driving while distracted.  It was approved by the legislature in 2021.  Experts suggest the higher fines and greater right of way haven’t been enough to reverse the trend.

Hartford-based filmmaker Jennifer Boyd and her Emmy-winning team have pulled the cameras back from local neighborhoods to film a new documentary, released in late this summer, titled “The Street Project,” and distributed by PBS.  The film’s write-up describes a situation of global proportions:

“Worldwide, 1.25 million people die in traffic-related crashes each year. Half of those deaths are pedestrians and cyclists. THE STREET PROJECT is an inspiring story about a massive movement across the US and around the world to reclaim our largest public spaces, our streets. The battle immerses viewers in the world of city bike messengers, business owners, activists, urban planners, and others who are leading the fight to create change.”  Major funding provided by Travelers, with additional funding by General Motors, 3M and Florida Atlantic University.

“THE STREET PROJECT is a story about humanity's relationship with our streets and the global citizen-led fight to make communities safer,” explained Boyd.  The documentary, which visits Europe, Phoenix and New York City, features “interwoven stories and interviews (that) take viewers on a global journey to discover a better way of doing things.”  Boyd has produced and directed 25 documentaries; nine have won EMMY awards.  Her widely acclaimed work tends to gain notice.

The CT DOT has also noticed an accelerating problem here at home.  CT Insider reported this past weekend on an effort to reduce the number of pedestrians hit by cars, with the launching of a new research project conducted by the state Department of Transportation and the University of Connecticut, studying the type of crossing signals at some intersections.

UConn’s Connecticut Transportation Institute (CTI) operates within the UConn School of Engineering and serves as a focal point for transportation-related research at the university and training throughout the state.  The Institute’s core programs serve to advance the maintenance and enhancement of transportation systems and safety, with a particular focus on Connecticut’s current and future needs.

Eight municipalities across Connecticut, CT Insider reported, have received upgraded crossing signal lights as part of the research project run by the state agency and UConn’s Connecticut Transportation Institute, which looks at traffic patterns and ways to improve safety on the state’s roads. In the study, side street crossing signals were switched to concurrent signals, which allow pedestrians to cross the main road while drivers traveling in the same direction have a green light. 

The study focuses on side streets with pedestrian crossing signals that look like miniature stop lights, with a green light to signal it is safe for pedestrians to cross. The study, funded with a $200,000 Federal Highway Administration grant, is being conducted in Groton, Bridgeport, Clinton, Danbury, Darien, Middletown, Shelton, Windham, and Bridgeport. 

The study is expected to conclude later this month, with a report to be published next Spring.