Wisconsin Seeing Steady Increase in Traffic Fatalities

Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 -- 12:00 PM

(WMTV) Despite more people working from home, a record number of people died in traffic crashes across the country in 2020.

That’s the finding of preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency found that there is a 7% increase in the car crash fatality rate since 2007. Local researchers says the problem is getting even worse in this year in Wisconsin.

Andrea Bill is a researcher at the Traffic Operations and Safety Lab at UW-Madison. Bill is part of a team that analyzes the type of crashes that occur and looks at what can be done to prevent them, either from a behavioral standpoint or an engineering standpoint.

She’s also studying how the pandemic has impacted the data. In 2020, the average number of miles driven dropped 13%, but even with fewer cars on the road, preliminary data shows more people died in crashes. Bill says less traffic, resulted in fewer drivers following the rules of the road.

Location also plays a role. Transportation researchers found that crashes increased particularly in rural areas, urban interstates, and at night. Bill says the data also shows an increase in impaired and distracted driving too.

While the number of fatalities slightly dropped in 2020 from 183 to 170. This years numbers so far are on trend to surpass that, with 166 fatalities in just the first 5 months of 2021. The 25 to 34 age group showed an 18% increase in car crash related deaths.

Meanwhile highway fatalities in people over 65 were down 9%, as seniors stayed home during the pandemic. The rate of accidents involving large trucks appears to have declined. Experts say when it comes to traffic deaths, teen drivers are the most vulnerable.

New reports from AAA show the summer months are the most dangerous for teen drivers. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, teens are three times more likely than adults to be involved in a deadly crash.

Not wearing a seatbelt, speeding, and distraction are the top factors in deadly crashes involving teens. With road travel increasing as cities reopen, parents are encouraged to talk to their kids about safe driving.

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