Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Highway Safety: A Collaborative Approach to Reducing Road Crashes
The safety of our roads is a shared responsibility, and the 2024 Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Highway Safety emphasized this vital message. This annual event, held in Wisconsin Dells, gathered traffic safety professionals, advocates, and community members to unite efforts in preventing fatal crashes and serious injuries on our roadways.
Hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Safety, the conference served as a platform for discussing innovative strategies and collaborative approaches to enhance road safety. Governor Evers, addressing the attendees, stated, “The Governor’s Conference on Highway Safety is essential for our mission to create a safer, stronger Wisconsin. We aim to integrate insights from government, advocacy, and the private sector to discover new methods for improving road safety. My administration remains committed to prioritizing safety and supporting initiatives that protect our communities.”
The conference featured presentations on the latest technologies and best practices designed to safeguard road users. Emphasizing the Safe System approach, speakers encouraged individuals and organizations to prioritize safety in their operations. Educational sessions and demonstrations covered a wide range of topics, including law enforcement strategies, crash response, traffic incident management, engineering solutions, and data analysis.
“Transportation safety is a core value of our agency,” said WisDOT Deputy Secretary Kristina Boardman. “We are dedicated to embedding safety in all our activities across various divisions. Our partnerships are crucial in maintaining a safe and efficient transportation system for the residents of Wisconsin.”
A significant focus of the conference was on law enforcement and community partnerships. Attendees exchanged ideas and best practices aimed at curbing dangerous driving behaviors that jeopardize the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and all road users.
“To achieve our goal of zero fatalities on Wisconsin’s roads, safety must be a collective priority,” stated State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan. “A secure transportation system is fundamental to public safety. By collaborating, we can foster a robust and consistent culture that prioritizes the health and safety of everyone on the road.”
Driver behavior remains a critical factor contributing to crashes in Wisconsin:
Approximately 3,000 individuals are injured annually due to reckless driving.
Impaired driving accounts for over a quarter of all traffic fatalities.
The Bureau of Transportation Safety, a division of the Wisconsin State Patrol, plays a pivotal role in safety program and policy analysis, leads public outreach on safety issues, and provides technological support to law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin.