GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Triple-A says Wisconsin is heading the wrong way with “wrong-way” crashes. Wisconsin is one of the top 5 highest states seeing this increase.
Wisconsinites getting behind the wheel are seeing an increase number of deadly wrong-way crashes.
According to AAA Between 2015 and 2018 these incidents were up 32% nationally. Wisconsin’s number was 6 times higher than that.
Nick Jarmusz, Director of Public Affairs for AAA said, “here in Wisconsin we saw about a 230% increase giving us about the 3rd highest increase across the country.”
Some contributing factors are older age. As well as alcohol which makes up 60% of crashes.
“There are a lot of other forms of impairment that aren’t always as easy to detect or verify and document,” said Jarmusz. “There could be drivers who are impaired by drugs, or medication, as well as impaired by distractions.”
Another typical driving distraction is having other passengers in the car. But, Jarmusz tells FOX 11 that might be one way to help avoid wrong way crashes.
“Passengers can act as a second set of eyes and ears and alert you to dangerous mistakes like these before it has a chance to become a dangerous situation.”
Wisconsin State Patrol says letting the department know as soon as possible can help prevent deadly situations.
Sergeant Andrew Jacobs, with Wisconsin State Patrol tells FOX 11….
“As soon as you call into our dispatch center, we’ll put it on our dynamic message board signs so if you watch the signs there will say there’s a wrong way driver in the area so if you see you’re in that area please pull over and be safe.”
And, Sgt. Jacobs says to always keep an eye out for changes in traffic patterns.
“It might be a new construction area that may confusing divers at first so if we get some signage there we can get that problem fixed.”
For a closer look at AAA’s findings click here.
