DARIEN, Conn. --- Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell this week announced her proposed budget's traffic safety initiatives, including 100 additional state troopers, 10 more commercial vehicle inspectors and upgrades to the Greenwich truck weigh station.

She announced the safety measures while flanked by state troopers at the state Department of Transportation maintenance facility, the Stamford Times reported.

"I chose this [location] specifically today because I think that it really does highlight the theme of my budget this year, which really is public safety, and in particular it is our highway safety," Rell said. "There have been a number of accidents and tragedies in the last couple of months. Many of those accidents have been caused by aggressive drivers, impaired drivers, drivers who simply choose to ignore the rules."

Rell's budget calls for adding 100 state troopers during the next five years, placing automated speed-enforcement cameras along I-95 in the Lyme-Old Lyme area and hiring 10 additional commercial vehicle safety inspectors to crack down on illegal trucks, the Stamford Times reported. Rell also supports stricter laws for teenage drivers.

The 100 new troopers would bolster staffing levels above the current state mandate of 1,248 state troopers.

Rell said her budget includes $1.26 million to upgrade or rebuild the truck weigh station in Greenwich and funding to add three new eight-hour weekend shifts a month at the Greenwich truck weigh station.

"The good news is there's more enforcement," Rell said. "The bad news is that if you think you can outrun us or skirt around us, don't even think about it, because we will be everywhere."

During her press conference, Rell outlined those initiatives and called for lawmakers to back the recommendations of her Teen Driving Task Force.

 

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