The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is asking drivers to protect those who protect us by taking steps to ensure safe driving conditions while workers respond to a crash.
The WisDOT reported 115,694 crashes in 2020 throughout the state. Of those, 703 were secondary crashes, happening after an initial incident. Last year, 69 workers were hurt and two were killed while responding to an emergency in Wisconsin.
"We've had fatalties in our area with tow truck drivers. I know we've had a few incidents with police getting hit. Near misses with fire, EMS," said Lt. Shauna Walesh, Green Bay Metro Fire Department."
Please let this photo from May 2020 serve as a reminder to #MoveOVerOrSlowDown for stopped emergency vehicles. In this incident, the trooper was injured. Please do your part to help keep everyone safe.#CrashResponderSafetyWeek#MoveOverMonday#MOSD pic.twitter.com/tHkFbchfMW
— WI State Patrol (@wistatepatrol) November 8, 2021
State and federal agencies are bringing attention to this issue through a national campaign called "Crash Responder Safety Week," which runs through Nov. 14. The initiative aims to educate drivers on how to respond to a crash and keep emergency crews safe while working.
During Crash Responder Safety Week, we recognize Wisconsin's first responders like firefighter Steve Stockhausen and the West Bend Fire Department who risk their lives responding to traffic incidents every day.#SlowDown #MoveOver #CRSW #CrashResponderSafetyWeek pic.twitter.com/k7DxWFPEWh
— Wisconsin DOT (@WisconsinDOT) November 9, 2021
Officials said drivers should move over and slow down when passing by an incident to give a buffer for responders and motorists behind them.
"Every year, Wisconsin has on average 136,000 traffic crashes," said Sgt. Jennifer Austin, Wisconsin State Patrol. "Be aware of what's going on and where the lights are: Are there lights on the right hand side. Are they on the left hand side. Maybe they're on both sides of the roadway, because the incident is on both sides. Be prepared in order to slow down."
Distracted driving can cause more problems.
"Just taking your eyes off the road to read a text covers the length of a football field with your eyes closed," Walesh said. "So that's a huge distance to be driving without paying attention to the road. With that, you may have an accident you may have missed. Just stay alert when you're behind the wheel at all times."
If someone is in a fender bender or crash, the car is drivable and there no one suffered injuries, the WisDOT said drivers should move their car to the shoulder or a nearby safe place off the road before calling 911. The transportation agency said people should also plan ahead by checking 511 Wisconsin for updates on road conditions and accidents.
Austin said WisDOT offers a traffic incident management enhancement program that trains emergency personnel how to respond to an incident on the roadway and clear the scene as soon as possible.
There's also afreeway service team that runs along I-41 between County F in Brown County and Wis96 in Outagamie County. WisDOT officials said it's to help with a high volume of crashes happening in that area. Services run Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
