Wisconsin law enforcement agencies to conduct special speed enforcement Wednesday

​​Release date: July 25, 2023

About 100 law enforcement agencies, including the Wisconsin State Patrol, will join officers from 11 states across the Midwest to step up patrols for Speed Enforcement Day on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

The campaign is a 24-hour, high-visibility enforcement effort involving state, county and local law enforcement agencies. The Wisconsin State Patrol will have all available officers working statewide to stop drivers who are endangering safety on the roads.

The goal of Speed Awareness Day is to educate the community on the dangers of speeding and save lives. Traffic crashes are more harmful when they involve high speeds. In 2022, 162 people were killed and more than 6,500 were hurt in speed-related crashes.

Speeding is a continued challenge across the nation and in Wisconsin. The number of 100+ mph citations issued by State Patrol rose sharply during the pandemic, from 583 citations in 2019 to 1,403 citations in 2020. State Patrol officers issued 1,159 100+ mph citations in 2022.

Speeding is more than just breaking the law. The consequences include:

• Greater potential for loss of vehicle control
• Reduced seat belt effectiveness
• Increased stopping distance
• Increased risk of severe injuries
• Increased fuel consumption

Speeding is considered a form of reckless driving. Learn more about the challenges of reckless driving and the efforts to stop it in the Wisconsin State Patrol's July Law of the Month.

Speed Awareness Day is a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsored campaign. Visit the NHTSA Region 5 website​ for more information.