Dane County Traffic Safety Commission
December 19, 2024
For more information, contact: Cheryl Wittke, 608-256-6713, Executive Director, Safe Communities
Law Enforcement agencies to focus on impaired driving Dec. 20-Jan.1
Law enforcement agencies have announced a focused county-wide effort starting Dec. 20 to discourage driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs during the holiday season. The Wisconsin State Patrol, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and twenty local police departments are working in partnership with the Dane County Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) to remind drivers to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” Through Jan. 1, these agencies will increase enforcement efforts and counsel drivers about the risk of getting behind the wheel after drinking or using drugs,” said Lt. Chad O’Neil, Stoughton Police Department, co-chair of the Law Enforcement Subgroup of the TSC.
So far this year in Dane County, 16 persons died and 256 were injured in the 197 impaired-driving crashes in which someone was hurt, Lt. O’Neil said. In Dane County over the previous five years (2019-2023), there were 1,098 impaired driving crashes in which there were injuries. A total of 74 persons died and 1,390 received injuries.
Lt. O’Neil said disappointingly this year’s numbers remain consistent with the past few years. “Despite our ongoing efforts to discourage impaired driving, we are making slow progress,” he said. “One alarming trend we need to watch is that an increasing number of crashes in the last three years involved
both alcohol and drugs.
“We are entering one of the busiest holiday travel periods. Too many people are likely to choose to drive after using alcohol or drugs,” Lt. O’Neil said. “Our goal is to save lives. Driving while impaired endangers you and everyone else on the road.”
After the holidays, the Dane County Traffic Safety Commission will announce the total number of traffic stops, citations, warnings, and OWI arrests made through Jan. 1 as part of this countywide effort.
Everyone can help with this effort. Cheryl Wittke, TSC co-chair and executive director of Safe Communities, which is partnering with the TSC on this initiative, offered these tips:
- If you plan to celebrate, identify a sober designated driver, contact a family member, call a taxi, use a rideshare service or find another safe ride home.
- Never allow someone who is impaired to get behind the wheel. If a friend is about to drive after drinking or using drugs, take the keys away and help them get home safely.
- If you suspect a driver is impaired, call 911. Provide as much detail as possible on the driver, vehicle, and location.
- Buckle up and put your phone down.
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Participating Agencies *********
Wisconsin State Patrol
Dane County Sheriff’s Office
Belleville Police Dept.
Blue Mounds Police Dept.
Cottage Grove Police Dept.
Cross Plains Police Dept.
DeForest Police Dept.
Fitchburg Police Dept.
Madison Police Dept.
Maple Bluff Police Dept.
Marshall Police Dept.
McFarland Police Dept.
Middleton Police Dept.
Monona Police Dept.
Mount Horeb Police Dept.
Oregon Police Dept.
Shorewood Hills Police Dept.
Stoughton Police Dept.
Sun Prairie Police Dept.
UW-Madison Police Dept.
Verona Police Dept.
Waunakee Police Dept.
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Potential Interviewees: The following may be contacted for comment directly:
1)
Cheryl Wittke, Exec. Director, Safe Communities and TSC co-chair.
cwittke@safercommunity.net, (608) 256-6713.
2)
Lt. Chad O’Neil, Stoughton, Police Department, Dane County Traffic Safety Commission Law Enforcement Subgroup Co-chair:
coneil@cityofstoughton.com, (608) 646-0453.
TSC News Release Impaired Driving 12-2024
