'Make wise decisions': Fatal crashes up in Wisconsin despite less drivers on the roads in 2020

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) — Despite less drivers on the roads this year, fatal crashes are up in Wisconsin.

On Friday, December 18, a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign will begin.

The Department of Transportation says the increase in fatal crashes is likely because of more risky driving like speeding, driving under the influence and not wearing seatbelts.

“Alcohol and drug impaired related issues, we specifically have seen an increase through 2020,” Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Nicholas Lorenzen.

According to the DOT, 565 people have been killed in crashes so far this year compared to 551 in 2019.

Although less drivers are on the roads, they believe the riskier driving is possibly due to stresses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Individuals are frustrated with what’s going on, even though there’s less traffic on the road, there’s individuals that are making poor decisions,” Lorenzen said. “There’s been enough financial distress, individuals displaced from employers, things of that nature, so we just want to stress the last thing that somebody needs is to be involved in an incident that could’ve easily been prevented through common sense and making good decisions.”

Lorenzen said they want people to understand the goal of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign isn’t to ticket people, but to promote public safety.

The campaign lasts through New Year’s Day.