MADISON, Wis. — State officials are urging drivers to avoid distractions behind the wheel as part of an effort to improve safety on the roads.
Monday marked Wisconsin’s second-annual “Buckle Up, Phone Down Day,” which aims to show drivers the importance of those two simple actions in preventing crashes.
“Unfortunately we have seen a rise in deaths because of distracted driving,” Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson said. “Last year we had 40 from distracted driving, which was up from 31 the year before, which was up from 26 the year before that. So we know it’s increasing. I think people driving on the roads see it.”
Seatbelt wearing, he added, dropped slightly in the past two years from 90% to 88%.
So far this year, WisDOT said distracted driving has contributed to 31 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries.
For the latest traffic conditions across the area, click here.
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