Connecticut Senator Wants To Put More State Troopers On Highways

NORWALK, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- A Connecticut lawmaker is pushing for more funding for state troopers in the interest of boosting highway safety.

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said he's convinced traffic fatalities on the Merritt Parkway and I-95 could be reduced with an upgrade in funding for state troopers. Duff said funding is needed not only for more troopers, but also patrol cars.

"They have cars that are getting replaced, but they're not getting replaced fast enough," Duff told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau. "They have some old equipment, and I don't know that they can adequately do their jobs if they don't have the equipment that they need."

Duff noted that recently highway accidents in the Norwalk area claimed two lives in two days. Speed is often the cause for such wrecks, and he believes increased highway patrols could make a huge difference.

Duff acknowledged it will be a tough budget year with priority focused on badly needed construction upgrades of Connecticut's roads, bridges and rails.