Wisconsin led the nation in the percentage of fatal crashes involving wrong-way drivers from 2013 to 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nearly one in 10 fatal crashes in the state involved wrong-way drivers, compared to 3.5% nationally.
In a special report, the Wisconsin State Journal examines what's driving the problem. Here are our findings, briefly.
>> Read the series: Headed the wrong way
Drinking and driving
Wisconsin is known for high rates of drinking, and the state’s drunken driving laws are among the most lenient in the nation, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
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Drunken driving is a factor in 60% of fatal wrong-way crashes, said AAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
More older drivers on the road
Some 18.7% of Wisconsin residents are 65 or older, compared to 17.3% nationally, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
About 20% of fatal wrong-way crashes involve older drivers, with people 80 and older particularly at risk, researchers say.
No hot spot screening
Wisconsin analyzes crashes for hot spots involving impaired drivers, hit-and-run drivers, teen drivers, older drivers, bicycles, pedestrians and other categories. But it doesn’t routinely analyze them for wrong-way driving.
Some states use “heat maps” or point systems to identify where steps should be taken to curb wrong-way driving.
Limited countermeasures
Wisconsin was one of the first states to install flashing wrong-way alerts systems, at 20 locations in Milwaukee County in 2012 and 2016.
But while some states have put up the systems in many areas, the Wisconsin effort remains limited to Milwaukee County. The state has added signage or pavement markings at some places thought to carry higher risk, however.
Not a budget priority
States such as Arizona, Iowa and Florida have allocated millions of dollars for initiatives against wrong-way driving.
Wisconsin has no dedicated budget to target the problem, transportation officials said.
Drunken driving and older drivers are key factors. Better signage, redesigned roads and flashing alert systems can help prevent the problem, experts say.