The Milwaukee Police Department tracked a 51 percent spike in fatal crashes from 2019 (51 deaths) to 2020 (77 deaths). And it recorded a 23 percent increase in reckless driving-related citations from 2019 (14,324 citations) to 2020 (17,612 citations).
The department of transportation released data, showing these deaths happen most often on one of 3 streets. 27th Street, Fond Du Lac, or Center Street. Many ideals have been discussed to tackle the problem, the latest just happens to weigh 18 tons (36,000 Pounds).
The city of Milwaukee partnered with the Business Improvement District, to place concrete planters on the corner of some of the busiest streets. They are positioned to replace turning lanes on parts of 27th Street, and Wells Street.
Partners Executive Director Keith Stanley had this to say: “I would encourage all of our communities to look at this,” Stanley said. “We’re seeing double-digit decreases in speed and double-digit increases in people’s confidence of walking along in this neighborhood. That’s important to us. We need to slow down the traffic.”
“Baselining” is what these objects are looking to stop, it’s when drivers take the far right lane (bike lane in some parts), and speed ahead to get ahead of traffic. Passing in the right lane allows some to speed ahead of other drivers, many times at the last minute forcing last minute breaking from others.
In many parts of the city this runs rampant, I for one stand with all efforts to decease and eradicate this epidemic.
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