Last month was the safest February on record on Wisconsin roads. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says 22 people died in 20 traffic crashes.
State Transportation Safety Director, Major Dan Lonsdorf, says it’s the lowest number of fatalities for that month and down from the 33 that occurred during the same period in 2010.
Lonsdorf says February is traditionally one of the safer months of the year, although he credits high gas prices and some of last month’s bad weather with reducing the amount of time people were out on the roads.
Lonsdorf says the DOT remains hopeful drivers will stay safe for the rest of the year now. He says there has been success in reducing the number of people driving while intoxicated or distracted, but countless lives can be saved if drivers continue to improve.
So far this year, 61 people in the state have been killed in traffic crashes. The number is up from 53 at this point last year.