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DOT: Traffic deaths increased 13 percent in 2015

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin transportation officials say traffic deaths increased by 13 percent in 2015.
 
The state ended the year with 556 fatalities, up from 494 in 2014. 
 
Department of Transportation officials said in a news release Monday that warm spring weather, cheap gas and an improving economy likely contributed to more vehicles on the road and miles traveled. Agency officials won't have the total miles traveled ready for several more months, however.
 
They also said they don't have enough data yet to tell if increasing the speed limit to 70 mph on some interstates and freeways contributed to crashes. 
 
DOT officials didn't immediately respond to an email inquiring about what sort of data they were collecting on the 70 mph speed limit and when it would be available.
 
Here are some statistics released Monday:

2015 Wisconsin traffic fatalities summary by role*

Roles

2014

2015

Approximate % increase or decrease

Drivers 

275

306

+11

Passengers

98

91

-7

Motorcycle operators

65

77

+18

Motorcycle passengers

7

4

-43

Pedestrians

45

55

+22

Bicyclists

4

15

+275

Unknown role

 

8

—

* PRELIMINARY NUMBER: The statistics for 2015 will not be final until spring 2016 to account for delays in reporting, revisions in the cause of death, and deaths resulting from injuries suffered in crashes in late 2015.

Wisconsin traffic fatalities & fatal crashes since 1990

Year

Fatalities

Fatal Crashes

1990

763

672

1991

795

675

1992

645

579

1993

703

616

1994

706

616

1995

739

656

1996

759

656

1997

721

631

1998

709

628

1999

744

674

2000

801

718

2001

764

684

2002

805

723

2003

836

748

2004

784

714

2005

801

700

2006

712

659

2007

737

655

2008

587

542

2009

542

488

2010

562

517

2011

565

515

2012

601

535

2013

527

491

2014

494

447

2015*

556

516

 

*Preliminary numbers

 

Associated Press 2016

Report a typo