MADISON, Wis. — Law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin are cracking down on impaired driving over the next few weeks as part of a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.
Starting Wednesday, the Wisconsin State Patrol and other enforcement agencies statewide will have increased traffic patrols to stop the dangerous, preventable crashes. The campaign runs through Labor Day.
“What makes these deaths so tragic is that they are preventable,” Wisconsin Secretary-designee of Transportation Craig Thompson said. “They result from the terrible decision to get behind the wheel while impaired. We hope the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign will make drivers think twice before they make a mistake that costs someone their life.”
According to WSP statistics, alcohol contributed to more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities in Wisconsin last year.
Drug-impaired drivers were also responsible for 2,250 crashes that caused 80 deaths in 2020. Those numbers are up from 1,749 crashes and 59 deaths in 2019.
“Our daily mission is to protect travelers on our highways and eliminate the risks of impaired driving, but safety is everyone’s responsibility,” WSP Superintendent Anthony Burrell said. “We’re asking drivers to choose safety as the summer travel season wraps up. Together we can save lives.”
According to preliminary data from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 326 people have died in traffic accidents on Wisconsin roads this year.
On Tuesday, officials with the Dane County Traffic Safety Commission announced traffic fatalities in Dane County have already reached a record high, just eight months into the year. More than half of those 35 fatalities involved someone driving while impaired.
More information and drunk driving resources are available online.
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