Traffic deaths in September lowest for the month since mid-1940s

Last month, 43 people died in traffic crashes on Wisconsin roads, which made it the safest month of September in terms of traffic fatalities since the end of World War II, according to preliminary statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).  The deadliest September was in 1973 with 116 fatalities.

Traffic fatalities last month also were two fewer than September 2013 and 14 fewer than the five-year average for the month of September.

As of September 30, a total of 362 people have died in Wisconsin traffic crashes in 2014, including 58 motorcycle drivers, seven motorcycle passengers, 25 pedestrians and three bicyclists.

Traffic deaths through September were 31 fewer than during the same period in 2013 and 59 fewer than the five-year average.

“As deer begin their mating season, we’re reminding drivers to watch for deer and take precautions by buckling up, slowing down, and eliminating distractions,” says David Pabst, director of the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety. “Last year, law enforcement agencies reported more than 18,000 deer vs. motor vehicle crashes in Wisconsin.”