Program Area: Traffic Safety

Dane County Traffic Safety Commission

A coalition dedicated to improving traffic safety

Coming Together To Make Dane County Safer

The Dane County Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) is a coalition of approximately fifty public and private organizations working together to monitor and improve traffic safety. The Commission partners with Safe Communities, a non-profit organization, to expand county traffic safety initiatives.

The TSC meets the second Wednesday in January, April, July and October to review quarterly traffic crash data and explore strategies to reduce the severity and frequency of crashes. Local, county, and state organizations involved in traffic safety are invited to become members. The Commission makes recommendations for corrective actions to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), county board, county highway committee, or other branch of local government.

Statutory Responsibility

The Dane County TSC, like those in all Wisconsin counties, is mandated by state statute. Membership includes a minimum of nine members:

County highway commissioner or designated representative
Chief county traffic law enforcement officer (e.g., the County Sheriff) or designated representative
A representative from the fields of education, medicine, and law
Three representatives from WisDOT involved with law enforcement, highways, and highway safety

Additionally, representatives from county law enforcement organizations and special interest groups impacted by traffic safety are encouraged to become members.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office oversees the Traffic Safety Commission with the support of Safe Communities of Madison – Dane County. Co-chairs serve from both organizations.

Crash Data

A report on motor vehicle crashes involving driver, passenger, or pedestrian fatalities during the previous three months is presented in a closed session during every meeting. Representatives of law enforcement agencies provide information on location, time of day, nature of the crash, traffic patterns, and other factors that may have contributed, such as driver impairment, distracted driving, vehicle speed, roadway lighting, seatbelt/helmet use, or road conditions. Names of individuals involved in crashes remain confidential. In the event other sensitive information is shared, those attending the meeting sign a confidentiality agreement.

Commission members regularly review information provided on Community Maps, a free, public, online database of all police-reported motor vehicle crashes across the state from 2010 to the present and fatal crashes from 2001. Community Maps is hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by the Wisconsin Traffic Operations and Safety (TOPS) Laboratory in collaboration with the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety (BOTS).

Tips for Responsible Drivers

Stay distraction free. Put down your cell phones when driving, NEVER text and drive!
Obey the speed limit and keep well behind cars in front of you, so you can easily stop for pedestrians, and be well-positioned when the car ahead of you does stop.
Watch street edges and sidewalks AHEAD carefully for pedestrians and when you see someone obviously ready to cross, apply your brakes early and gently so the car behind you can stop, too.
Always assume a pedestrian is crossing the street whenever a driver in front of you, or in the lane next to you, slows down or stops. Never pass a slowed or stopped car until you are sure no one is crossing the street. Fine: $222.50! It’s extremely dangerous! Stop for the pedestrian at least a car length or two short of the crosswalk so cars behind you and the pedestrian can more easily see each other around your car. Remember that the next time you may be the pedestrian, and this pedestrian may be the driver waiting for you. And thanks for stopping for pedestrians!