Despite Mild Weather, February Was Deadly Month on Wisconsin Roads

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) released preliminary statistics that show a spike in traffic deaths in February over last year. Last month, 34 people died in 25 traffic crashes in Wisconsin, which is 12 more than in February 2011 and one more than the five-year average for the month of February.

According to a release from WisDOT, as of the end of February, 78 people have died in 65 Wisconsin traffic crashes, including three pedestrians along with 54 drivers and 21 passengers. Traffic deaths through February were 17 more than during the same period in 2011 and seven more than the five-year average.

February's numbers included the tragic accident involving nine teenagers from Campbellsport, three of which who were killed in a van after the driver lost control of the vehicle.

February is part of an undesirable start for the year for the Bureau of Transportation Safety, but WisDOT officials say the death total could be much lower if people just buckled up.

“Traffic deaths are higher so far this year compared with last year. There are many reasons for this increase. However, a significant factor has been several crashes this year that resulted in multiple fatalities, in large part because the driver and passengers were unbuckled,” says State Patrol Major Sandra Huxtable, director of the bureau. “The best protection against being ejected from a vehicle during a crash or thrown around violently inside it and possibly hitting another vehicle occupant with massive force is to always wear safety belts. Tragically, too many drivers and passengers still ignore the safety belt law. On average during the last three years, there have been more than 100,000 convictions in Wisconsin for failure to wear safety belts. Click It or Ticket is more than just a slogan. It’s one of the best ways to help reduce the number of preventable traffic deaths to zero in Wisconsin.”