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There’s been a big increase in the number of people losing their lives on Wisconsin roadways.
The state Department of Transportation says preliminary figures show 54 people were killed in highway crashes around the state in May. The figure is six more than the same month last year and five more than the average for the past five years.
For the year as a whole so far, 207 motorists lost their lives from January through May – 48 more than last year, and 26 more than the five-year average.
State DOT transportation safety director David Pabst notes more motorcycles will soon be on the roads. He’s urging motorists to watch for bikes – especially at corners and when changing lanes and making turns. Pabst says bikers should also be more careful by wearing helmets and conspicuous clothes, obey traffic laws, and not ride while impaired.