Year's traffic deaths on pace to break several-decade low
Once again Wisconsin drivers have reason to be proud of their monthly driving record.
Traffic deaths in the state in October were down from October 2007 by 22 percent, the state Department of Transportation said.
"Last month, 48 people died in 45 Wisconsin traffic crashes, which made it the third safest month of October in terms of traffic deaths since World War II," said Dennis Hughes, chief of safety programs for the DOT.
"The safest month of October occurred in 1944 with 40 fatalities," Hughes said, "and the deadliest October was in 1971 with 127 fatalities."
In October 2007, the state recorded 66 traffic fatalities. In the past five years, 69 deaths have occurred on average on Wisconsin roads.
As of the end of October the state has had 502 people killed in 462 crashes, including 76 motorcycle drivers, nine motorcycle passengers, 42 pedestrians and nine bicyclists, with the remainder being car drivers and passengers.
Traffic deaths through this October are down by 134, or 22 percent, from last year and are down by 149 compared to the five-year average, Hughes said.
"For the last two months in Wisconsin, we've seen traffic fatalities at their lowest numbers in more than 60 years," said Hughes. "If this trend continues, Wisconsin could end the year with the lowest number of traffic deaths in several decades."
But Hughes warned that achieving that won't be easy with the upcoming November weather and he cautioned drivers to get acclimated to winter road conditions and congested highways for the holidays and deer hunting season.
"To continue this downward trend in traffic fatalities, motorists must make responsible decisions, such as not driving too fast for road or traffic conditions and not driving while impaired," Hughes said.
