Wisconsin residents now have a new option to consider with their driver's licenses that could be very important and useful for both you and your family.

Last year, a new law went into effect that allows state-issued ID holders to link emergency contact information to their ID. This is an optional thing for residents, but this seemingly simple new option can have some pretty crucial impacts.

Here's why you may want to consider doing this, how to set it up, and how it works.

Why link emergency contact information to your Wisconsin driver's license?

As the Wisconsin Department of Transportation explains, linking emergency contact information to your ID will allow law enforcement to quickly access emergency contact information in the event of something like a medical emergency or car crash.

Being able to quickly get in contact with a family member or loved one can save crucial time in the event of an emergency.

While some smartphones have an emergency contact option built in, this isn't always a perfect solution. In the event of a car accident, for example, a phone could be damaged or ejected from the vehicle.

How does it work?

This voluntary program will allow law enforcement officers and authorized Wisconsin DOT employees to access this emergency contact information in the event it is necessary

As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explains, the state law creating this new program protects this provided contact information and does not allow it to be disclosed to anyone but the license holder, law enforcement officials, and Wisconsin DOT employees in the event of an emergency contact need.

READ MORE: These Wisconsin Counties are home to the state's deadliest roads

The contact information is not printed on the driver's license. Rather, it needs to be looked up using a law enforcement/DOT system using the name and information already found on a Wisconsin ID.

How can I set up an emergency contact link with my Wisconsin driver's license?

While you can add this information the next time you renew your driver's license, you don't need to wait that long.

You can go to the Wisconsin DOT website to add emergency contact information linked to your ID at any time.

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In order to set it up, you'll need to enter the following personal information in on their emergency contact website:

  • Your first and last name
  • Your Wisconsin Driver's License or ID Card number
  • The last 4 digits of your Social Security number
  • Your date of birth

Then you'll need to add the following information for your emergency contact:

  • Your emergency contact’s name
  • Your emergency contact’s address
  • Your emergency contact’s phone number
  • Your relationship to the emergency contact

It is worth noting that only one emergency contact can be linked to your ID.

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