Whether on the roads or on the Wisconsin waters, extra eyes will be watching to make things just a little bit safer during the Independence Day Holiday week.
Those traveling the roads may find a Wisconsin State Trooper riding side-saddle in the semi next to them on the highway. That’s the result of the “Trooper in a Truck” program, which pairs Wisconsin State Troopers with a semi-truck or bus driver to get an elevated viewpoint on potential dangerous driving involving commercial motor vehicles. The effort, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, takes place from July 8th through the 12th.
Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan said that “Commercial motor vehicles have large blind spots, limited maneuverability, and require longer distances to stop. All motorists have to work together to prevent crashes.”
Those crashes have, over the past five years, averaged out to about 7,000 involving large trucks annually. In 2023, 70 people died in those incidents. Troopers in a Truck focuses on stopping distracted driving. When observed by an officer, the report will be radioed to nearby patrol cars in order to take action. Also under scrutiny: speeding, reckless driving and following too close.
Counterpart efforts on Wisconsin Waterways will be undertaken through the “Operation Dry Water” campaign. Wisconsin DNR conservation wardens and area law enforcement will be on the water July 4-6 along with partners nationwide in order to monitor, and educate boaters about safe boating practices, including sober boating.
According to the Wisconsin DNR, alcohol use has been identified as a leading factor in recreational boating fatalities, and 85% of those who drowned in a recreational boating incident were not wearing life jackets. One of four Wisconsin waters fatalities so far in 2024 was tied to alcohol, while results in another two are pending.
Since its inception in 2009, Operation Dry Water has facilitated the removal of 6,869 impaired operators from waterways nationwide.
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