October 5, 2012

Stay Safe on Wisconsin Roads

We all want our roads to be safe.  Not only can a car accident be costly, it can cause injury or death.  In 2010, there were more than 108,000 crashes in Wisconsin, leading to 562 deaths and approximately 40,000 people injured.  Every 18 minutes, an injury or fatal crash occurs, and alarmingly, the number one killer of children from birth to age 12 is car accidents.

According to the state’s Department of Transportation (DOT), most of those crashes are preventable, as unsafe driving behaviors is a leading contributor.  To save lives, reduce injuries, and bring those numbers down, the DOT offers the following tips in preventing traffic crashes.   

First and foremost, drive the speed limit.  Speed-related crashes made up 30% of all Wisconsin traffic deaths and killed more than 150 people and injured nearly 8,000.  Speeding is also by far the most common traffic conviction in Wisconsin.  There were more than 200,000 speeding convictions in 2010, with speeding tickets costing between $200 and $800.  Demerit points also are assessed and insurance premiums often increase because of speeding tickets. 

In addition, a reduced speed greatly improves your ability to maintain control of your vehicle.  Slowing down also gives a driver more time and distance to avoid a collision.  Even if you cannot avoid a collision, driving at a lower speed reduces the violence of the crash.  The higher the speed, the lower your chances of surviving an accident. 

Slow down near pedestrians and bicyclists.  A pedestrian is injured or killed every seven hours, and a bicyclist is injured or killed every eight hours.  Crashes involving pedestrians that happen at low speeds of 25 miles per hour and below have 89% survivability, while at 35 miles per hour and above, that reverses to 89% of pedestrians dying when struck.  Drivers who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians who are legally crossing roadways may be issued citations that cost from $175 to $232.  A citation for passing a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians costs $326. 

Watching out for pedestrians – particularly children – is very important, as the leading cause of death and injury to a child is being hit by a car.  Young children often lack the judgment and experience to make good choices when dealing with traffic.  Their smaller stature also makes them harder for motorists to see.  Children cannot judge speed and distance or even if a vehicle is moving or parked and also have one-third less peripheral vision than adults.   Be sure to slow down in school zones, near parks and pools, and in neighborhoods where children may be at play. 

Be safe around aggressive drivers.  Aggressive drivers fly past other drivers and cut other drivers off, close the gap between them and the next car, and often do not allow others in their lane.  They drive over the speed limit, rocket through intersections when the light turns yellow, and get right on the tail of drivers in front of them.  If you are near an aggressive driver, it’s best to back off and let them go on their way. 

In the same regard, avoid tailgating other cars.  Drivers who follow too closely cause countless collisions, and most drivers who tailgate do not realize how dangerous it can be.  In addition, car insurance premiums often increase for drivers who hit another vehicle while following too close.

Texting while driving is new concern, but not only is it against the law, it is dangerous and deadly.  Writing or reading a text message while driving can be just as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol.  Those who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be in a car accident, and sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds.  At 55 miles per hour, that is like driving the length of an entire football field, blindfolded.  All it takes is a split second of your eyes off the road to get into an accident. 

Without question, drive sober and never get into a vehicle with a driver who has had too much to drink.  In Wisconsin, a person is killed in an alcohol-related crash every two hours.  In 2010, drivers involved in more than 5,700 crashes were under the influence of alcohol, and 32% of all crashes involved a driver who had been drinking.  

Use caution when driving near or around large vehicles.  While large trucks are involved in about 12% of fatal crashes on Wisconsin roadways, the driver of the truck is not at fault about 66% of the time.  Further, it is usually the occupants of the other vehicles that are the ones injured or killed.  To be safe, do not hang out in the four blind spot zones around a large truck where the driver is unable to see: the front, the back, and the sides of the truck. 

Also, maintain at least a four-second following distance when driving behind semi-trucks or buses.  Remember, it takes a large vehicle twice the time and room to stop as it does a car.  Moreover, be careful when passing a large vehicle.  Avoid passing on the right side, always signal your intentions well ahead of time, and ensure you can see the entire front of the truck or bus in your rear-view mirror before you pull back in front.  Place wiper blades on high when passing or meeting a large vehicle in rain or snow. 

The Wisconsin Legislature works hard to ensure the laws governing drivers are for the best protection of everyone.  It is then up to each individual driver to ensure they drive safely and are in compliance with traffic safety laws.  For more information on Wisconsin’s roadway laws or safety on our roads, go to the DOT’s Web site at http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/index.htm or contact my office anytime. 

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Senator Kedzie can be reached in Madison at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 or by calling toll-free 1 (800) 578-1457.  He may be reached in the district at (262) 742-2025 or online at www.senatorkedzie.com