BRIDGEPORT, CT – State Senator Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield), as Republican leader of the CT General Assembly’s Transportation committee, hosted an informational briefing at State Police Troop G Barracks in Bridgeport to raise awareness about the escalating dangers of distracted driving.
Distracted driving has become a leading cause of car crashes in the U.S. In 2023, 3,275 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. While more than 700 injury crashes involve distracted driving on a typical day in the U.S.
The danger of texting while driving is widely recognized by drivers, with 96% of those surveyed by AAA believing it poses a grave threat to their safety. Despite this, 39% of drivers admitted that in the month prior, they had read a text or email while driving—and another 29% admitted to typing while driving.
Senator Hwang was joined by a coalition of state and local leaders, including AAA Northeast’s Lauren Fabrizi, State Police Trooper Jannina Bonilla, CT Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Joe Cristalli, Jr., Watertown Police Chief & CT Police Chief Association Vice President Joshua Bernegger, and Newtown Police Chief David Kullgren. Each roadway safety experts offered valuable perspectives on the shared responsibility to protect Connecticut’s drivers, bikers and pedestrians.
“Distracted driving is not just a personal risk—it’s a public danger that puts everyone on the road in jeopardy,” said Senator Hwang. “When you take your eyes off the road for any reason, you’re essentially driving blindfolded. Just five seconds of distraction at 55 miles per hour means you’ve traveled the length of a football field without seeing or recognizing dangers on the road.”
Senator Hwang emphasized that increased driver distraction is making it significantly more difficult for law enforcement to do their jobs. “Our officers are already under enormous pressure. We must do more than expect them to enforce the rules—we must equip them with the tools, support, and policy framework to keep our roads safe,” he said.
He also praised the strong collaboration between state, local law enforcement and CT DOT, underscoring the importance of their roles not just as enforcers and policy makers, but as partners in public roadway safety. “This is not about punishment—this is about prevention and accountability and awareness,” Senator Hwang added. “We need to change the paradigm of behavior before preventable tragedy strikes.”
The event featured comments from law enforcement officials and traffic safety advocates who echoed the senator’s concerns and shared stories and data about the impacts of distracted driving on communities across Connecticut.
“It is incredibly important for us to come together this distracted driving awareness month to highlight the staggering number traffic deaths caused by distracted driving both nationwide and in Connecticut,” said Lauren Fabrizi, Spokesperson for AAA. “The consequences of distracted driving continue to impact the lives of far too many people. In Connecticut, from 2020-2024, there were more than 26,000 crashes involving distracted drivers, with over 5,000 crashes last year alone. While talking, texting, and scrolling through social media are among the most common forms of distraction, we once again remind drivers that things like adjusting GPS, eating, drinking, putting on makeup, or even attending to passengers can be dangerous too.”
“Despite all these (vehicular) advancements, the fundamentals of vehicle operation have not changed—our vehicles must still be driven. The steering wheel must be turned, the throttle and brakes need to be operated, all of which requires the driver to be paying attention to one simple thing: driving. To this extent, our advancements in technology have worked against us. We now have handheld electronic devices with over 100,000 times the computing power of the equipment that guided the Apollo 11 moon landing,” remarked COPA Chief Bernegger. “These devices are constantly sending us information, and seeking a response, even when we are driving an automobile. The simple truth is, if we are paying attention to our phones instead of the road in front of us, then all of those vehicle and roadway safety advancements won’t save us from a collision. Please put the phone away when you are driving.”
“Number one priority for law enforcement across our state and our colleagues standing with us today, is to protect the public. One of the ways we do that is through targeted enforcement. It is not to punish, it is to protect our residents, our citizens, our businessowners,” added Newtown Police Chief Kullgren. “Distracted driving kills hundreds of people across our nation, causes hundreds across Connecticut. We ask you one simple thing: please put down the phone, and focus on driving safety.”
“It takes a mere five seconds for anything life changing to happen. So, what I want to reiterate is if you are on the roadway driving, just be mindful the person to the left or the right of you, we all share the same mission—we all want to get to our destination safely,” said State Police Trooper Jannina Bonilla. “Avoid all distractions, and keep in mind also that, myself, my colleagues, and DOT, we all have family to get home to. So avoid all distractions, put the phone down, and keep your eyes on the road.”
Senator Hwang concluded by calling for a continued statewide effort to raise awareness, strengthen distracted driving laws, and foster collaborative solutions that prioritize prevention and safety over prosecution and citations.