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I have been driving the Merritt Parkway for twenty-eight years, from my home in Fairfield to my ophthalmology office in Rocky Hill. The speed limit is fifty-five miles per hour but for all practical purposes, the police officers tolerated any speed under seventy miles per hour.
I have never received a speeding ticket nor been pulled over for any reason. I consider myself a cautious driver, but I knew exactly where the police stationed themselves, after the bridges near Exit 46 and Exit 57 along with the end of Heroes’ Tunnel. But not anymore.
It appears that the state police have abandoned enforcing the traffic regulations as they are rarely seen. The result is aggressive driving that endangers everybody.
Last week, while I was driving in the right lane, I saw a car rapidly approaching me in my rearview mirror with the intention of passing. The problem is that there was a car to my left leaving little room to pass. I quickly veered to my right and this speeder barely missed sideswiping me. He then cut off a car in the left lane and proceeded to weave in between lanes while I witnessed the brake lights of other cars flashing to avoid an accident. This car was going over 100 miles per hour.
I witness crazy drivers on the Merritt daily. They have no regard for our traffic rules, speed limits and apparently for their lives or the lives of others.
Frustrated, I contacted the chief officers of the State Police Department. I was amazed at how quickly they responded but disappointed in the actual statement which I partially quote:
“In response to the increased number of fatal motor vehicle accidents you mentioned, we have already taken proactive steps to heighten our efforts during critical hours in specific locations throughout our patrol areas. Our troopers will continue to focus our efforts on ensuring the safety of all residents.
Your concerns will certainly be shared with Troopers from Troop I-Bethany and Troop G-Bridgeport which cover areas of Route 15. I believe that this knowledge paired with our ongoing efforts to address and mitigate such dangerous behavior will go a long way.
Please know that keeping our roads safe is a collaborative effort. We encourage you and other residents to remain proactive in sharing your concerns. If you witness any such behavior in the future, we urge you to immediately call 9-1-1 so that we can respond promptly and effectively.”
There is no acknowledgement as to whether my observation is accurate. Has there actually been a decision not to have police officers enforce the traffic laws on the Merritt Parkway?
Furthermore, it is very difficult to call 911 when driving (plus it is illegal to speak on a cell when driving) and even if I did so, the answering individual would immediately ask me the make and license plate number of the offending vehicle which is difficult to ascertain while swerving out of the way.
Connecticut’s Police have been unfairly buffeted by political forces and this may be the culprit. For example, car jackers and other violators of the law are routinely given little or no bail and police officers may question whether there is any wisdom in risking their lives if prosecutors and judges will not enforce our laws.
Police officers have been accused of disproportionately giving more tickets to Blacks and may be reluctant to pull anyone over lest they be accused of racism and suffer disciplinary action. But it my experience, virtually every aggressive driver on the Merritt Parkway is a young or middle-aged white male.
It may well be that there is data indicating that enforcing traffic laws on the Merritt Parkway is more dangerous than the present free-for-all. The Merritt is quite narrow and police officers risk their own lives standing on the side of the road while giving in a ticket.
Furthermore, unknown to most citizens, enforcing traffic laws is one of the most dangerous activities a police officer can engage in, second only to investigating a domestic violence compliant. Many miscreants are armed and have outstanding warrants. Multiple police officers have lost their lives to these desperate felons. To a police officer, there is no such thing as a “routine” speeding stop.
But whatever the reason, it is unfair to the drivers of the Merritt Parkway to be placed at risk. The technology exists to place cameras at strategic locations, determine who is speeding and capture their license plate numbers. Assuming our prosecutors and judges enforce our laws (and that is a big “if’), the Merritt Parkway could once again be a safe place to drive without risking the lives of our police officers.
