WISCONSIN — The Wisconsin State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies are working to reduce the number of traffic fatalities across the state.
"Ninty percent of the crashes out here on the highways are human error, and those human errors are the speed distracted driving," said Master Trooper Robert Simpson, with the Wisconsin State Patrol.
For the past three years, the number of traffic fatalities across the state have decreased. In 2016, 594 people died due to traffic accidents, in 2019, the number decreased down to 550.
Simpson said half of those traffic fatalities could have been prevented by wearing a seat belt.
"Fifty percent of the people who died in fatalities last year, they were not wearing their seat belts. Once you sit down [in your car], shut the door put your seat belt on," said Simpson.
Milwaukee County led the state with 79 traffic fatalities. Simpson said the traffic deaths impact many in the community, including first responders.
State Patrol said they will continue to work on decreasing the number of fatalities out on the roads by having a viable presence and educating the public. Their goal is to get the number of traffic fatalities down to the only acceptable number.
"The goal is zero! What we want people to do is, don't drive distracted, to put the phone down. Hopefully, that's going to drive the crashes down and speeding down," said Simpson.
