LA CROSSE COUNTY HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Law Enforcement Center and Courthouse
Sheriff’s Department Training Room
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Allison, Tim Berg, Dennis Johnson, Bill Lubinski, Roland Solberg
MEMBERS EXCUSED: John Flynn, Tim Hammes, Andrew Winga
MEMBERS ABSENT: Al Blencoe, Matt Gallager, Ilona Hansen, Sheriff Helgeson, Evan Stone
OTHERS PRESENT: Michael Hesse (Town of Farmington), Josh Potter (WisDOT), Joe Schneider (WisDOT)
CALL TO ORDER
Sgt. Bill Lubinski, Committee Coordinator, called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the May 14, 2008 Highway Safety Commission were approved as printed.
SPEED ZONE IN TOWN OF FARMINGTON
Mike Hesse, the Town of Farmington Chairman, was present to discuss speed zones in the Town of Farmington. State Statutes say that the first step in setting speed zones is to bring the issue to the Highway Safety Commission for input. Farmington has speed signs, but they are not enforceable. In order to enforce the speed signs, a speed study must be completed.
Areas of concern include Baker Road (marked 45 mph now), McIntosh Road (35 mph), Albertson Road (35 mph), and the Mindoro Elementary School (15 mph).
A motion was made by Mike Allison, seconded by Roland Solberg, and carried to refer the speed study to the DOT. Andy Winga is to be the contact person. DOT has done a similar study in Vernon County for data collection and analysis of speeds.
LA CROSSE COUNTY SPOT MAP/CRASH DATA FOR 2008
The spot map was not available at this time.
|
2008 |
1st quarter |
2nd quarter |
|
Sheriff Department |
|
|
|
Hit & run |
5 |
9 |
|
Car/deer |
59 |
67 |
|
Injuries |
35 |
26 |
|
Property damage |
129 |
48 |
|
Fatalities |
0 |
0 |
|
Sub-total |
228 |
150 |
|
|
|
|
|
State Patrol |
|
|
|
Hit & run |
- |
- |
|
Car/deer |
- |
- |
|
Injuries |
- |
- |
|
Property damage |
- |
- |
|
Fatalities |
- |
- |
|
Sub-total |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
- |
- |
State Patrol figures for the 1st and 2nd quarters have not been received by the Sheriff's Department. Mike Allison and Sgt. Bill Lubinski will check on this to see where the snag is in receiving the data.
The 2nd quarter had the least amount of accidents in four years. Crashes and fatalities are down statewide.
There were two reportable turkey crashes and one reportable coyote crash in the 2nd quarter. Four crashes involved alcohol.
On 83 reportable crashes with 148 occupants, 127 reported wearing seatbelts, for an 86% compliance rate. The statewide compliance rate is 74.2%.
It was reported that the Wisconsin State Patrol is getting a new supervisor.
WISDOT TRAFFIC SAFETY UPDATE
Dennis Johnson reported that as of yesterday, August 12, 2008, there have been 342 crash related fatalities in Wisconsin compared to 448 through the same date in 2007. There have been 50 motorcycle fatalities (including five passengers) compared to 110 on the same date in 2007.
The June law of the month is to save money by slowing down. Speeding is the #1 traffic problem and is compounded by alcohol usage. Trucking firms have made policies for their drivers to slow down.
The July law of the month is that traffic fines are double in work zones. There is a lot of road construction yet to be done this year.
The August law of the month is slower traffic keep right, mainly on divided highways. Trying to self-enforce speed limits leads to road rage and traffic flow problems. Enforcement should be left to law enforcement officers.
The Governor’s conference is August 20-21. A grant conference is scheduled for September 11.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/DISCUSSION
There was discussion about roundabouts being used more and more for intersections. The DOT is generally going to use roundabouts instead of traditional intersections in future construction unless there is a good reason not to. A brochure on roundabouts was distributed and a video on roundabouts was viewed by the committee. Studies have showed that there is a 90% decrease in fatalities at roundabouts compared to conventional intersections
AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER 12, 2008 MEETING
Items to be included on the November 12, 2008 agenda include the speed study in the Town of Farmington (if completed by then), La Crosse County spot map/crash data for 3rd quarter of 2008, and Wisconsin Department of Transportation traffic safety representative update.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:24 p.m.
The above minutes may be approved, amended, or corrected at the next Committee meeting.
Roxanne Felde, Recorder