[MtnLaura]

I'm moving to Connecticut from the Philadelphia suburbs and the latest thing I've heard that I can't believe is that Route 2 is, and I quote, "One of the worst roads in the country. When it snows or rains, it's a death trap".

Seriously? I've driven on some of the worst roads in the nation, namely the Roosevelt Boulevard and the Schukyll Expressway (look them up - they're rated every year) and find it hard to believe that a road like Route 2 is that bad.

Any road in the snow that isn't properly cleared will stink, no doubt. Is this person being overly dramatic or am I taking the whole thing too lightly?

Thanks for the input!

[Tetto]

They're definitely being overly dramatic. I've driven rt 2 for 30+ years and its an average highway. It sometimes can get slow between exits 9 and 10 for some unknown reason, but its fine. You'll be ok

[kidyankee764]

The person is definitely being dramatic. The death traps in CT (most dangerous highways) are 95 (in Darien) and I heard Route 66 in Columbia? I've never heard of Route 2 being on that list - though that doesn't mean you should let your guard down when driving on it.

[Tetto]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

The person is definitely being dramatic. The death traps in CT (most dangerous highways) are 95 (in Darien) and I heard Route 66 in Columbia? I've never heard of Route 2 being on that list - though that doesn't mean you should let your guard down when driving on it.

RT 6, you were close

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Tetto

RT 6, you were close

Thanks.

[JViello]

RT2 a deathtrap? LOL I guess if you consider Vanilla an extreme flavor you could make that connection.

[mels]

Originally Posted by JViello

RT2 a deathtrap? LOL I guess if you consider Vanilla an extreme flavor you could make that connection.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA

I am a daily Route 2 commuter in the heart of the morning rush. That road is easy peasy compared to I-84 or I-95. I head westbound towards Hartford daily. There is usually an unexplained slowdown maybe 2x a week around exit 10, and I am usually stuck in stop and go from exit 8 until the end of Route 2 in Hartford. That is about as death defying as it gets.

The beauty is as soon as kids are out of school or on holiday, traffic disappears, making summers a breeze on Rt. 2.

Edited to add: They keep Rt. 2 generally well plowed in the winter, however, there are a few steep hills and curves. Generally this is no problem, but like any road in the US where snow can fall, you will get the occasional a-hole driving too fast for conditions and flipping their car into the median or off the road which will obviously slow down traffic. Having lived in other states that get snow, as well as other parts of CT, I am 100% positive that is not a unique Rt. 2 thing. However, I always budget a little extra time on snowy or icy mornings.

[nep321]

Not sure why people consider Route 6 to be a death trap or dangerous at all. It used to be that way years ago ("Suicide 6"), but now it has been reconstructed or realigned in certain segments to make it safer. I have driven the entire length of Route 6 and it is generally a wide, modernized, spacious road in the rural areas.

As for Route 2, I would say it's pretty average, although it has a lot of twists and turns in East Hartford and Glastonbury and might be a little more dangerous, but nothing to worry about still. East of Hartford county, Route 2 is actually quite flat and straightened out for the most part.

IMO the most dangerous route in CT is Route 109 in Litchfield County. So many sharp turns, surprise hills, etc.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by mels

BWAHAHAHAHAHA

I am a daily Route 2 commuter in the heart of the morning rush. That road is easy peasy compared to I-84 or I-95. I head westbound towards Hartford daily. There is usually an unexplained slowdown maybe 2x a week around exit 10, and I am usually stuck in stop and go from exit 8 until the end of Route 2 in Hartford. That is about as death defying as it gets.

The beauty is as soon as kids are out of school or on holiday, traffic disappears, making summers a breeze on Rt. 2.

Edited to add: They keep Rt. 2 generally well plowed in the winter, however, there are a few steep hills and curves. Generally this is no problem, but like any road in the US where snow can fall, you will get the occasional a-hole driving too fast for conditions and flipping their car into the median or off the road which will obviously slow down traffic. Having lived in other states that get snow, as well as other parts of CT, I am 100% positive that is not a unique Rt. 2 thing. However, I always budget a little extra time on snowy or icy mornings.

The slowdown starts that far back? Wow, I had no idea. Interesting.

Originally Posted by nep321

Not sure why people consider Route 6 to be a death trap or dangerous at all. It used to be that way years ago ("Suicide 6"), but now it has been reconstructed or realigned in certain segments to make it safer. I have driven the entire length of Route 6 and it is generally a wide, modernized, spacious road in the rural areas.

As for Route 2, I would say it's pretty average, although it has a lot of twists and turns in East Hartford and Glastonbury and might be a little more dangerous, but nothing to worry about still. East of Hartford county, Route 2 is actually quite flat and straightened out for the most part.

IMO the most dangerous route in CT is Route 109 in Litchfield County. So many sharp turns, surprise hills, etc.

The issue with RT6 is pretty simple. It's the only main route heading directly East and people treat it as the interstate it was supposed to be and want to travel fast, combine that with slower local traffic, virtually no passing lanes, blind curves and no lighting and you have a deathtrap.

[anon860]

No roads like that are really safe - and the faster they are, the more dangerous they get. Nationally, for every three hours spent driving, you lose one hour of life expectancy. Roads like Route 2 are incredibly dangerous by any measure of risk.

Obviously the statistics are worse than that for you if you drive on higher speed, rural roads, and are virtually zero if you spend all your time driving on slow, city streets.

People who live in outlying suburban areas, like much of Connecticut, like to deny these facts because this tends to hit a little close to home. I know a bunch of people who have been killed or severely injured in crashes in recent years.

Remember physics class? You can greatly reduce your risk, even on roads like Route 2, by driving less and by driving much more slowly.