It looks as though the carnage wrought by the return to higher speeds may have to occur later this year. This was in the August 1 DOT Bulletin. SAFETY TREND CONTINUES. If the trend continues, this summer could end up being one of the safest since the mid 1940s on the state's roads and highways.
The safety trend begun in May continued in July, with preliminary figures indicating that 64 people lost their lives in crashes. That's the lowest traffic fatality total for a July since 1946, when 49 people were killed. Last year 82 people were killed in July.
Normally the summer months see the state's highest traffic death tolls. The June and July total of 125 this year is the third lowest June/July total since World War II, and is well below the 5-year June/July average of 148.
David Manning, 608/267-3710; Dennis Hughes, 608/267-9075.
Elsewhere in that bulletin is an article about an Amtrak train from Milwaukee to Green Bay for a football game. A fund raiser for a RR museum. The trip will take 4 hours for a 120 mile trip. That ought to convince people to take a train in the future!
From the NMA
Here is the latest speed data (August 1996) from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, taken at select sites on certain roads around the state of Wisconsin. In the spring of 1996 the speed limit on all or parts of these roads was raised to 65 mph:
| Freeway Location | Average Speed 1995 | Average Speed 1996 | Average Change | 85th% Speed 1995 (55 mph) |
85th% Speed 1996 (65 mph) | 85th% Change |
| US 53, Cameron | 64.1 | 67.9 | 3.8 mph | 69.7 | 73.3 | 3.6 mph |
| US 14, Madison to Oregon | 61.1** | 65.4 | 4.3 mph | 67.3** | 70.4 | 1.9 mph |
| US 41/45, Menomonee Falls | 62.3 | 66.3 | 4.0 mph | n/a | 72.3 | n/a |
| I-94, Waukesha | 62.8 | 67.4 | 4.6 mph | 69.2 | 73.8 | 4.6 mph |
| US 41, Allenton | 61.1 | 67.3 | 6.2 mph | 69.8 | 73.4 | 3.6 mph |
| Freeway Averages | 62.3 | 66.9 | 4.6 mph | 69.0 | 72.6 | 3.6 mph |
Percent compliance with posted speed limits:
| 1995 | 1996 | Change |
| 8.6 | 35.1 | + 310% |
The compliance numbers still are not very high. For that and other reasons, NMA recommends a 75 mph speed limit on those and similar roads.
| Expressway Location | Average Speed 1995 | Average Speed 1996 | Average Change | 85th% Speed 1995 (55 mph) |
85th% Speed 1996 (65 mph) | 85th% Change |
| US 41, DePere | 60.4 | 65.5 | 5.1 mph | 64.8 | 69.9 | 5.1 mph |
| WI 23, Kohler | 59.7 | 65.9 | 6.2 mph | 64.5 | 71.2 | 6.7 mph |
| US 61/151 Dubuque to Dickeyville | 60.3 | 65.2 | 4.9 mph | 65.6 | 70.0 | 4.4 mph |
| US 151, Columbus to Beaver Dam | 63.4** | 66.7 | 3.3 mph | 69.2** | 72.3 | 3.1 mph |
| Expressway Averages | 60.9 | 65.8 | 4.9 | 66.0 | 70.8 | 4.8 mph |
Percent compliance with posted speed limits:
| 1995 | 1996 | Change |
| 9.8 | 49.3 | + 405% |
The compliance numbers still are not very high. For that and other reasons, NMA recommends a 70 mph speed limit on those and similar roads.
** 1994 data