Wisconsin Transportation Officials Urge Safer Driving Practices As Deadly Crashes Rise

(Wisconsin) Transportation officials are calling for safer driving practices as deadly crashes rise in Wisconsin. So far, 209 people have been killed in crashes. That is 16 more deaths than at the same time last year.

According to the state DOT website, there have been four fatalities in Dodge County through May 29th. Fond du Lac County just reported its sixth Wednesday. Jefferson County also has four, Green Lake County has one, and Washington County has reported five.

The problem is not unique to Wisconsin. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports crash deaths rose by 10.5-perecent in 2021, which was the largest ever annual percentage increase in the five decades the agency has collected fatal crash data.

Wisconsin DOT Secretary Craig Thompson says everyone needs to do their part to keep roads safe. He says motorists need to driver sober, buckle up, and put their phone down.

Failure to wear a seat belt also contributes to crash deaths and injuries. A 2021 survey found about 88-percent of Wisconsin drivers and passengers were buckled up. That number has dropped two percentage points since 2019.