Summer is road trip season and if your travels take you through Wisconsin, there's a good chance you've driven on the busy Madison Beltline. I've learned from experience that you want to avoid the Beltline during rush hour commute times.

Beginning in April of this year, the Wisconsin State Patrol began conducting special traffic enforcement patrols on the Madison Beltline to prevent risky driving behaviors that can lead to serious injury and fatal crashes.

It's not surprising that this focus on the Madison Beltline proved to be very successful during peak road trip season.

Wisconsin State Patrol Shares Results Of Increased Enforcement On The Beltline

Wisconsin State Patrol Officers participated in special Beltline enforcement patrols for 50 days, focusing on the highest traffic times which most often coincided with the morning and afternoon commute.

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During that time, it was recently reported that officers conducted over 800 traffic stops that resulted in over 1,400 citations and warnings on the Beltline, with some stops producing multiple violations.

The posted speed limit on the Beltline is 55 mph. Approximately one in four speed citations issued on the Beltline this summer was due to a driver going 80 mph or more. WisDOT notes that traffic crashes are more dangerous and can be deadly when they involve excessive speeds or other reckless behaviors. In addition, approximately 30 drivers were cited for Operating While Intoxicated.

WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman points out that many improvements have been made to the Beltline over the years to improve efficiency and safety, but the improvements don't make a difference if motorists are following the rules of the road.

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Boardman urges drivers "to follow the speed limit, move over for first responders, pay attention, and be courteous to others on the road.”

The Wisconsin State Patrol adds that it plans on maintaining its presence on the Madison Beltline while continuing to work with partner law enforcement agencies to strengthen their efforts to prevent risky driving in the area.

Most Crashes Are Preventable If The Rules Of The Road Are Followed

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reiterates that most crashes are preventable, and drivers can avoid serious injury or death by following some simple steps:

  • Don’t speed. Speed increases the severity of crashes.
  • Drive sober. Alcohol and drugs inhibit reaction times and make it harder for a driver to focus on safely operating a vehicle.
  • Buckle up. Wearing a seat belt can greatly decrease the severity of injury in a crash. Make sure children are in the proper safety seat.
  • Put the phone down. One in five 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.

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