October traffic deaths are third lowest since World War II

November 6, 2008

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, according to preliminary statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The safest month of October occurred in 1944 with 40 fatalities, and the deadliest October was in 1971 with 127 fatalities.

Traffic fatalities in October also were 18 fewer than in October of last year when 66 people died and 21 fewer than the five-year average of 69 deaths during the month of October.

As of the end of October, 502 people have died in 462 Wisconsin traffic crashes, including 76 motorcycle drivers, nine motorcycle passengers, 42 pedestrians and nine bicyclists. Traffic deaths through October are down 134 - about a 22 percent reduction-compared with the same period in 2007 and down 149 compared with the five-year average.

"For the last two months in Wisconsin, we've seen traffic fatalities at their lowest numbers in more than 60 years," says Dennis Hughes, chief of safety programs for the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety. "If this trend continues, Wisconsin could end the year with the lowest number of traffic deaths in several decades. However, that won't be easy or automatic. In November, for instance, drivers will need to get acclimated to winter road and weather conditions and also will face congested highways around Thanksgiving and the deer hunting gun season. To continue the 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."

For more information, contact:
Dennis Hughes, Bureau of Transportation Safety
(608) 267-9075, dennis.hughes@dot.state.wi.us