Email This Story
Print This StoryWisDOT Stats Show June Was Very Safe For State Drivers
June Had Second Fewest Fatalities Since WW II
UPDATED: 1:03 pm CDT July 4,
2008
MADISON, Wis. -- New Wisconsin Department of Transportation numbers are showing a long awaited positive safety trend.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportNew data shows the past several months have been one of the safest periods for drivers to hit the road."(I'm) going to Lake Keganza for the weekend. Just going camping," said Craig Peterson, vacationing close to home this year. Peterson said the cost of fuel is cutting his time on the road.Said Peterson, "I haven't been going nearly as far (lately). I'm originally from Green Bay so making a trip from Green Bay to Madison is not feasible right now, don't feel like doing that, so we just stay around here, less driving."Department of Transportation officials said less driving seems to be producing good numbers.Last month was the second safest June for drivers in 62 years. According to stats from the DOT, this past June saw 51 road related deaths, 9 fewer than June of 2007. 20 fewer than the 5 year average of 71. The last time numbers were lower in June was World War II."It's terrible that many people are still dying on our highways but we're down about 27 percent over last year's total," said DOT spokesperson Steve Olson. "So it's an encouraging trend that we'd like to see continue, because we're coming up on the high fatality months of July, August and September."The Department of Transportation said the declining number of fatalities have been a trend every month since October of 2007, WISC-TV reported.Rising fuel costs is also the reason why AAA is predicting for the first time in 10 years that fewer drivers will be on the road this holiday weekend.In the great lakes area -- that includes Wisconsin and several neighboring states -- 5.3 million people are expected to travel over the Fourth of July.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportNew data shows the past several months have been one of the safest periods for drivers to hit the road."(I'm) going to Lake Keganza for the weekend. Just going camping," said Craig Peterson, vacationing close to home this year. Peterson said the cost of fuel is cutting his time on the road.Said Peterson, "I haven't been going nearly as far (lately). I'm originally from Green Bay so making a trip from Green Bay to Madison is not feasible right now, don't feel like doing that, so we just stay around here, less driving."Department of Transportation officials said less driving seems to be producing good numbers.Last month was the second safest June for drivers in 62 years. According to stats from the DOT, this past June saw 51 road related deaths, 9 fewer than June of 2007. 20 fewer than the 5 year average of 71. The last time numbers were lower in June was World War II."It's terrible that many people are still dying on our highways but we're down about 27 percent over last year's total," said DOT spokesperson Steve Olson. "So it's an encouraging trend that we'd like to see continue, because we're coming up on the high fatality months of July, August and September."The Department of Transportation said the declining number of fatalities have been a trend every month since October of 2007, WISC-TV reported.Rising fuel costs is also the reason why AAA is predicting for the first time in 10 years that fewer drivers will be on the road this holiday weekend.In the great lakes area -- that includes Wisconsin and several neighboring states -- 5.3 million people are expected to travel over the Fourth of July.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
