The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that accidents and traffic injuries in Wisconsin increased following a switch to a 70-mph speed limit throughout most of the interstate system last summer. “Wisconsin was the last state in the upper Midwest to change to 70 mph, joining 38 other states whose maximum speed is 70 mph or higher,” the article reports. “Accident statistics for the interstate system in Wisconsin in June, July, August and September showed an almost 13% increase over the same four months last year — 319 more crashes — and 16% higher than in 2013 with 390 more crashes,” the article reports. Capt. Steve Krueger, commander of the State Patrol’s post in Wausau, said, “It’s not necessarily the speed itself that causes problems all the time. A lot of times it’s the differential in speed” Badger State Sheriff’s Association President Brent Oleson said the problem might have to do with distracted driving due to cellphone use.
From the news release of the American Association for Justice.
