Here in Connecticut, state officials are ramping up efforts to curb speeding and reckless driving on rural roads. This spring, drivers will notice an increased police presence, part of a federally funded safety initiative. The move comes as the state grapples with an average of 43 deaths per year on rural roads over the past five years, making up about 15 percent of all fatalities. Drivers are being warned now to slow down. Police say the scenic beauty of Connecticut’s 5,500 miles of rural roads can be deadly due to speeding and reckless driving.