It is a problem that many police departments in Connecticut are reporting and one that became all too real for the Groton police department back in August. Young people are driving dirt bikes and ATVs on Connecticut roads illegally and causing serious danger to themselves and those that they are sharing the road with. In the incident in Groton one person was killed and another was critically injured when they came in contact with a car after running red lights.
These behaviors are becoming more and more common and the prevalence of these illegal activities are putting police officers and the general public at risk of becoming involved in a deadly Connecticut car accident which could leave both the driver of the car and the dirt bikes with serious injuries and even death. Police departments acknowledge that this behavior is illegal and extremely dangerous, but many have determined that it would cause greater public harm if they were to try to chase these riders down in a high speed chase.
If the police cannot do anything about these situations except continue to make it known that anyone engaging in these types of behaviors will be fined and in some cases arrested, then what can you as a driver who is “sharing” the road with these vehicles do? In all honesty there is no good answer to this question. When you are forced into a situation that is dangerous for you and your passengers it can be hair raising and quite terrifying. While you may not be able to take any significant action to get these vehicles off the street, you can take actions that will allow you to steer clear of them and the dangers that they present. Here are some things you can do if you see these types of vehicles on the road with you.
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Change your route. While this may be inconvenient, it is one thing you can do immediately to get out of harm's way. If you stay on the route you’re on and you are sharing the road with these vehicles you can be in a very dangerous. Most GPS apps will give you alternative routes to your destination so you may want to pull over and choose the alternate route before continuing on.
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Call 911. If you see this dangerous activity happening on a road you are traveling on, pull over and safely call 911 to report it. While many of these riders are not deterred by the presence of police, some may be spooked enough to ride off in a different direction away from the police presence. A call to 911 may not stop the behavior, but if it redirects the behavior away from your path forward, you may help yourself avoid the dangers that are presented by being close to these riders.
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Do not attempt to slow them down or get in their way. These riders have proven time and time again that they are not interested in safety and would rather puff out their chest and “take you on” if you’re seen as challenging them in any way. Steer clear of these vehicles at all costs and do not engage with them at all. If you do you may get yourself involved in a situation where an injury to you may occur and you most certainly do not want that.
Dirt bikes and ATVs have a very specific recreational use and are not by their nature negative, but when they are driven on main roads with other traffic and a desire to actually go against the law, they can put you, your passengers and themselves at risk of being involved in a Connecticut car accident. Police officers can fine these individuals if they are caught, but most departments are choosing not to increase danger to the public by engaging these vehicles in a high speed chase. Therefore, you must take precautions into your own hands and make sure you are doing everything you can to keep yourself safe.
If you do encounter this type of behavior on the road and it leads to an injury, do not hesitate to reach out to our office so one of our experienced attorneys can review your situation. Contact us and one of our attorneys will work with you on protecting your long-term interests.
