Police report five Q1 traffic fatalities and sharp rise in hazardous citations; grants used for targeted enforcement

The Madison Police Department told the Transportation Commission on April 29 that quarter 1 traffic enforcement activity and crash data show a troubling start to the year, with five traffic fatalities and a significant rise in hazardous citations.

Lieutenant Feiner, presenting the quarterly traffic safety report, said hazardous citations rose to 3,366 in Q1 compared with previous quarters, and nonhazardous citations and citywide warnings also increased. Traffic complaints were higher as well (reported as 209). Feiner summarized five fatal crashes in Q1 with brief circumstances:

- Jan. 12 — Packers Avenue north of Londonderry: motor vehicle struck a pedestrian mid-block; driver (30-year-old man) arrested for operating after revocation causing death; pedestrian (77-year-old woman) fatally injured. - Feb. 5 — South Park Street at Burr Oak: vehicle struck a 17-year-old pedestrian in a marked crosswalk with illuminated warning lights; driver actions cited include exceeding speed and failing to yield; pedestrian died. - Mar. 4 — South Park Street (late night): single-vehicle crash that flipped and fatally injured the driver; family indicated a possible medical event; driver described as a 36-year-old Hispanic male. - Mar. 21 — Commercial Avenue at Mesta Lane: vehicle struck a pedestrian outside a crosswalk and left the scene; impairment may be a factor; pedestrian (61-year-old man) died. - Mar. 31 — South Midvale (500 block south of Ames): single-vehicle high-speed crash into a tree killed a 19-year-old driver; three passengers were transported with serious injuries.

Feiner described enforcement funded by Wisconsin DOT grants deployed in partnership with the Dane County Sheriff's Office. He said the department ran specialized overtime deployments — typically four to six officers for four-hour shifts — focused on alcohol/OWI, seat belt, speed and bike/ped safety on the city's high-injury network (including East Washington Avenue, the Beltline and Park Street). Deployments began mid-February after the city received the grants.

Commission members asked why citations rose so much; Feiner said several factors likely contributed, including grant deployments, new personnel and command staff changes, and increased enforcement emphasis. Members also asked whether grant officers enforce other visible violations encountered during grant deployments; Feiner confirmed officers will stop drivers committing any violation observed during grant patrols.

Feiner said staffing and competing overtime opportunities can limit deployments later in the year and that measurable reductions in citations depend on sustained enforcement and driver behavior changes. He noted the traffic safety lead-off reports from grant deployments often highlight positive public feedback for officers on the street.

The commission took no legislative action on the report; members thanked the police for the data and asked staff to continue monitoring enforcement results and crash trends.