1 week Ago
The recent tragic Route 8 fatality reported Courant could likely have been avoided if Connecticut followed the yield signing convention adopted by our neighboring states. Both New York and Massachusetts post yield signs at all limited highway entrance lanes reminding the motorists that it is required that they yield to oncoming traffic. All too often during my frequent use of Connecticut limited access highways do I witness drivers forcing their way onto the highway travel lane from the acceleration lane, rather than waiting for a safe opening to do so.
It is important to note that, in this incident, the driver was not charged with “failure to yield.” It is also important to note that Connecticut requires drivers entering roundabouts to yield to traffic in the roundabout and posts yield signs to that effect at all roundabout entrance lanes, which is analogous to a driver entering the highway from an acceleration lane. Thus, until Connecticut follows the lead of other states, it can be considered complicit in merging accidents like the one on November 8.
Roger Kern, Essex.
