The Wisconsin Department of Transportation published its preliminary data for year-end figures of crash-related fatalities in each county across the state.

An analysis of the 2024 preliminary data points to some troubling trends, with traffic fatality numbers trending upward from previous years and from the five-year average.

Of the 20 counties with the highest number of vehicle-related fatalities, 12 of them saw an increase in fatalities when compared to the year before. Conversely, 6 counties saw fewer fatalities than the year before, with the remaining two having the same number in 2023 and 2024.

While the individual causes of these tragic statistics are not disclosed, it is an important reminder to drivers to do everything they can to maintain safety while on the road.

Things like maintaining safe and legal speed, avoiding distractions while driving, not driving impaired, and using extra care in conditions like poor weather, congestion, and road construction are all common sense ways to be as safe as possible while on the road.

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The good news is that 9 Wisconsin counties (12.5%) saw no reported crash fatalities in 2024. Furthermore, 29 of Wisconsin's 72 counties (40.2%) saw less than 5 reports last year. 55 counties (76.3%) saw less than 10 fatalities in 2024. 

While some of those numbers sound optimistic; in the end, any number bigger than zero isn't good. So make sure to do your part while driving to maintain safety for you and everyone else on the road.

Here's a look at the 20 counties with the highest number of reported vehicle-related fatalities across Wisconsin in 2024.

20 Wisconsin Counties With The Deadliest Roads in 2024

Based on data from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Crash Records Unit, these are the 20 counties with the highest number of fatalities from vehicular crashes across the state in 2024.

Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper

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