From time to time different entities take action to try to reduce the number of car accidents that occur on our nation's roads. Though those campaigns are often locally based, this past weekend a national group took action. The International Association of the Chiefs of Police sponsored a challenge that is focused specifically on Interstates 90 and 94 which run from coast to coast. Called the I-90/94 Challenge, the point of the four day long safety campaign was to reduce the number of deaths and injuries due to traffic accidents.
As I-90 and I-94 run through the state of Wisconsin, law enforcement agencies throughout the state participated.
The timing of the safety challenge makes sense for the state of Wisconsin. This is because August is traditionally the most dangerous for drivers in the state, recording the highest number of traffic deaths in the year. While August 1969 goes down in history as being the most dangerous for the state with 154 traffic deaths, over the course of the past five years, during this month, an average of 62 people have died.
There are several things that law enforcement is sought to get drivers to do during the challenge, including:
- Wear seatbelts.
- Drive sober.
- Pay attention while driving.
- Not speed.
This was accomplished via more troopers on the road as well as aerial enforcement. The director of the Bureau of Field Operations indicated that the goal of the program was to reduce injuries and save lives, not write more tickets.
While residents of Wisconsin would most likely welcome a positive result in the safety challenge, accidents will still likely occur on roads throughout the state. In these instances those involved may decide to contact a personal injury lawyer.
Source: WITI, "I-90/I-94 Challenge: Drivers take note -- More troopers on the freeway during mobilization effort," Katie DeLong, July 30, 2014