‘We have seen a culture of reckless driving form in Wisconsin’: WisDOT aims to reduce reckless driving, July’s Law of the Month
(WFRV) – Authorities in Wisconsin say that July’s focus on the roadways will be on reckless driving as it is the DOT’s Law of the Month.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced that July’s Law of the Month is reckless driving prevention. Officials are encouraging motorists to take ‘simple’ steps to eliminate crashes caused by reckless driving.
The release says that in 2023 there were more than 5,500 reckless driving crashes in Wisconsin. Which resulted in 3,081 people getting injured and 137 people killed by a reckless driver.
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We have seen a culture of reckless driving form in Wisconsin. We need to encourage one another to pay attention on the roads and follow the rules put in place to protect each other. We have to work together to shift the culture of distracted and reckless driving to prevent further lives lost.
State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan
WisDOT says that reckless driving is illegal in Wisconsin and that a driver could face up to $400 in fines for a first offense. Additionally, if someone gets seriously injured in a reckless driving crash, the driver could reportedly face up to six years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
The release mentions that a reckless driving charge could include behaviors like speeding, improper lane changes, tailgating, illegal passing and others.
Officials provided the following tips to prevent reckless driving:
Don’t Speed
Speed increases the severity of crashes
Avoid Distractions
1 in 5 crashes involves distracted driving. Turn off your phone or download an app to prevent incoming and outgoing messages, calls and notifications while driving.
Drive Courteously
Courteous driving encourages other drivers to be courteous. Aggressive driving influences others to drive aggressively.
WisDOT is working with the Wisconsin State Patrol to prevent reckless drivers and is using programs to help target reckless driving. Aerial enforcement, Speed Awareness Day and Trooper in a Truck are some of the initiatives that were mentioned.
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More information can be found on WisDOT’s website.
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