Safety - Serious Traffic Injuries - WisDOT MAPSS Performance Improvement Program

WisDOT MAPSS - Safety - Serious Traffic Injuries - Moving toward minimizing the number of deaths, injuries and crashes on our roadways.

Any traffic injury on Wisconsin’s roadways is one too many. Our goal is to reduce the number of serious traffic injuries by 2% each year from the prior five-year rolling average (a lower number is better).

• A lower number is better for this measure. 
• Calendar Year - Current year data is year-to-date.

In 2022, 3,213 persons were seriously injured in traffic crashes on Wisconsin roadways. Understanding where these serious injuries occurred can aid us in trying to prevent them.

Traffic crashes are avoidable events caused by such factors as human behavior, vehicle condition and environmental surroundings. Weather can also have a seasonal impact, especially on motorcycle or bicycle-related crashes. Driver behavior, such as motorcyclists wearing helmets and motorists using seat belts, has the most significant impact on injury rates. Safety, road design improvements and tougher laws can have a positive impact on crash frequency. In addition, the severity of injuries in crashes can be lessened through rapid and high-quality emergency medical response.

WisDOT uses a combined strategy of engineering, education, enforcement and emergency response to prevent traffic crashes and injuries, including designing safer roads and maintaining the highway infrastructure. In addition, the department expanded the number of multi-jurisdictional High Visibility Enforcement task forces to address impaired driving, speed, pedestrian safety and safety belt use. The department is targeting speed and aggressive driving through increased use of aerial enforcement and in partnership with agencies across the state. WisDOT provides ongoing educational outreach to high school students to promote safe driving, use of safety belts and eliminating driving distractions, such as texting. The department has installed center line and shoulder rumble strips and other roadway improvements in corridors with safety concerns.