MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) — It’s been over a year since the interstate highway speed limit rose to 70 mph in Wisconsin, and in that time, it appears that the danger level of the interstates has increased.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that fatalities, injuries, and accidents are up on the interstates in Wisconsin since June of 2015. The same increases have not happened on state highways, which remain at 65 mph.
Fatalities rose from 27 to 37 and accidents rose by over 1,000 between June of 2015 and June of 2016, compared to the same span of time from the previous year. Sheriff’s officials from different parts of the state claimed that speed could certainly have been a factor, but they did not believe it was the main reason for the increases.