County Police Agencies Issue 209 Citations in Effort to Remind Drivers to Slow Down
Editor’s Note: On the Saturday before Memorial Day, my sister, her second husband and his sister, daughter and son-in-law were driving on a gravel road in rural Kansas when they were hit by a Ram pick-up truck that was driving at 65 miles per hour down the center of the road. Only my sister and her husband survived. They have spent the last two months in hospitals and rehab facilities recovering from their injuries. Please remember that speed and driving while intoxicated kills innocent people. Please obey the traffic laws. They have been implemented to keep us all safe.
Dane County law enforcement agencies issued 209 citations and 65 warnings to Dane County drivers for speeding as part of a county-wide education and enforcement effort May 24-31. The week-long increased surveillance by 19 county law enforcement agencies was coordinated by the Law Enforcement Group of the Dane County Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) to remind the public of the risks and consequences of not following speed limits. Fourteen of these agencies reported citation information. For those agencies also reporting excessive speed, one in four drivers was recorded at 20 m.p.h. or more over the posted speed limit.
Although focusing on speed, law enforcement officers made 461 traffic stops for a variety of causes. In addition to speed violations, officers issued 58 citations for seat belts and arrested seven persons for OWI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated). An additional 37 drivers were arrested for unrelated violations. To remind drivers to reduce speed, law enforcement agencies also collaborated with area residents to distribute 1,800 “Slow Down” yard signs. Six school districts also placed signs at 37 school properties.
“Our focus during this week was increased enforcement for speeding violations, combined with greater education for our communities on how to reduce risk of death or serious injuries from speed-related crashes,” said Lt. Chad O’Neil, co-chair of the TSC Law Enforcement Group. “Speeding is not only illegal, but endangers you, your loved ones, and everyone else on the road.”Last year, Dane County experienced 1,097 speed-related crashes, which accounted for 16 percent of all crashes and 41 percent of fatal crashes.
The Dane County Traffic Safety Commission is a coalition of 52 public and private organizations working together to monitor and improve traffic safety. The TSC is partnering with Safe Communities of Madison — Dane County, a non-profit organization, to expand county traffic safety initiatives.
Dane County Traffic Surveillance Results: May 24-31, 2024 (19 Law Enforcement Agencies participating; 14 reporting)
• 461 Traffic stops
• 405 Citations, including:
• 209 for speeding
• 8 seatbelt violations
• 44 criminal arrests, including 7 for OWI
• 184 Warnings, including 65 for speeding
