WYDOT and WPH Looking to Decrease Fatalities

The increasing numbers of traffic fatalities in the state have the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Wyoming Highway Patrol looking for ways to catch the attention of drivers to encourage them to make safe choices.

WYDOT will display on its dynamic message signs throughout the state five different safety messages.

Some of the messages people will see include, “Check your seat belt! Check your speed!,” “Your family needs you! Slow Down! Buckle Up!,” and “18 deaths on Wyoming roads this year. Buckle Up!”

Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. David Wagener pointed out that in 2016, 34 people out of the 112 total fatalities were the result of impaired driving. Fifty-five out of those were the result of lack of seat belt use when seat belts were available.

Overall fatalities and fatal crashes have been decreasing since 2014. According to WYDOT’s Highway Safety Office, in 2014, there were 150 fatalities; there were 145 fatalities in 2015. And last year saw 112 fatalities.

So far this year, Wyoming has had 18 fatalities from 15 fatal crashes.