Every minute of every day, firefighters, emergency medical service, law enforcement,
towing and recovery, highway department, public works, safety service patrol, and other
transportation professionals work tirelessly to clear roadway crashes, debris and stalled
vehicles. These responders also bring life-saving care to those injured. Tragically,
hundreds of responders across our nation have been killed while assisting road users in
need, and many more have endured life-altering injuries simply because a driver did not
slow down or move over when approaching the incident scene.
This November 18-22, Monroe County stands in solidarity with our traffic incident
responders and with Governor Tony Evers who has issued a proclamation designating
this week as Crash Responder Safety Week. Monroe County is committed to focusing
attention on the small, simple actions each of us can take to keep our emergency
responders and all roadway users safe. In observance of Crash Responder Safety Week,
Monroe County reminds all roadway users that by reducing your speed as you proceed
past responders working roadside, you dramatically reduce the risk of death in the event
of a secondary crash.
Statewide, there are over 130,000 total crashes each year resulting in nearly 27,000
injuries and 530 deaths. On average, each year in Monroe County there are 202 fatal and
injury crashes resulting in 304 injuries and 7 deaths. November has the highest number
of total crashes, and December has the highest number of injury and fatal crashes. Of all
drivers in fatal and injury crashes, 59% were Monroe County residents.
This Crash Responder Safety Week, Monroe County calls on every roadway user to:
“Reduce your speed as you proceed” along a traffic incident and if feasible, move
over a lane, providing a protective buffer between you and roadside responders.
Learn about Wisconsin’s Slow Down, Move Over law.
§346.072 Wisconsin Statutes: Passing stopped emergency or roadside service vehicles.
(1g) In this section, “emergency or roadside service vehicle” means any of the following: (a) An authorized
emergency vehicle giving visual signal. (b) A tow truck flashing red lamps, as required by s. 347.26 (6) (b).
(c) Any road machinery or motor vehicle used in highway construction or maintenance displaying the lights specified in s. 347.23 (1) (a) or (b) or, with respect to a motor vehicle, displaying the lights specified in s. 347.26 (7). (d) Any vehicle of a public utility, telecommunications carrier, or cooperative association
described in s. 347.26 (9) displaying one or more flashing amber or green lamps as provided in s. 347.26 (9). (1m) If an emergency or roadside service vehicle is parked or standing on or within 12 feet of a roadway, the operator of a motor vehicle approaching the emergency or roadside service vehicle shall proceed with due regard for all other traffic and shall do either of the following: (a) Move the motor vehicle into a lane that is not the lane nearest the parked or standing emergency or roadside service vehicle and continue traveling in that lane until safely clear of the emergency or roadside service vehicle. This paragraph applies only if the
roadway has at least two lanes for traffic proceeding in the direction of the approaching motor vehicle and if the approaching motor vehicle may change lanes safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
(b) Slow the motor vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for traffic conditions, and operate the motor vehicle at a reduced speed until completely past the emergency or roadside service vehicle. This paragraph applies only if the roadway has only one lane for traffic proceeding in the direction of the approaching motor vehicle or if the approaching motor vehicle may not change lanes safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic. (2) In addition to any penalty imposed under s. 346.17 (2), any person violating this section shall have his or her operating privilege suspended as provided in s. 343.30 (1o).
Show your support for our traffic incident responders on social media using #CRSW.
Monroe County offers gratitude to our nation’s traffic incident responders who put
themselves in harm’s way to keep all roadway users safe. And we remind every
roadway user, Responders Ahead! Reduce Your Speed as You Proceed.
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