Every driver can make construction zones safer

It’s Work Zone Safety Awareness Week April 26-30, and the WisDOT is taking part in a nationwide campaign to spread awareness about safe driving, as construction and maintenance activity increases, for the spring and summer months.

“One thing that unites us all as highway workers and motorists, is that we all want to make it home to our families,” said WisDOT secretary-designee Craig Thompson. “Even the smallest distraction can lead to a tragedy on the highway, so we ask everyone to stay focused – buckle up, phone down.”

Last year, despite traffic reductions related to the pandemic, there was still a work zone crash every three and a half hours in Wisconsin. Over the past five years, Wisconsin work zones have seen more than 13,000 crashes, causing 59 deaths and more than 5,000 injuries. The vast majority of crash victims are drivers and passengers with speed, tailgating and distracted driving all common factors.

Even at a reduced speed of 55 mph, a vehicle covers 80 feet per second, or the length of a football field, in under four seconds.

In Wisconsin, work zones include major highway construction and rolling maintenance operations, as well as emergency response, municipal projects and utility work along local roads. While orange and barrels, signage and flashing lights are frequently found at work zones, drivers don’t always pay attention to their surroundings.

“Even in areas with reduced speed limits, things can happen in an instant,” said Chippewa County Highway commissioner Brian Kelley. “Always expect the unexpected.”

People can help by doing the following:

• Drive safely, avoid distractions and obey posted speed limits. Be courteous and patient, set a good example for others on the road.

Public input is needed on the next 10 years of wolf management in Wisconsin, as well as public comment on the fall 2021 wolf harvest season. The public comment period is open until May 15, during which the online input tool will be available on the DNR’s wolf management plan webpage.

As part of the management plan revision process, the DNR will convene a Wolf Management Plan Committee (WMPC). Following the public comment period on wolf management’s future in Wisconsin, the WMPC will provide input to the DNR for developing an updated wolf management plan.

The committee will comprise stakeholder groups, including hunting/trapping organizations, wolf advocacy/education organizations and agricultural/ranching organizations. The DNR also reserves additional seats on the WMPC for invited tribal and governmental agencies, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and DNR technical staff support.

A draft plan will be made available for public review and comment. The DNR will then submit a final draft to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) for approval in mid-2022.

The DNR is also simultaneously working to prepare for a fall 2021 wolf harvest season, through a transparent and science-based process. The DNR has convened a 2021 Wolf Harvest Advisory Committee to provide input on the fall season’s management objectives and harvest quota.

The committee will consider the current management plan, state statute and the February 2021 season report, in providing input to the department. Throughout the process, the DNR will also coordinate with tribal partners and seek further public input on harvest objectives.

For more information on the wolf management plan and the fall 2021 wolf harvest season, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov.

• Leave the phone alone. Texting and driving is illegal statewide, and talking on a hand-held mobile device is illegal in work zones.

• Slow down when seeing workers, and if it’s possible, provide additional space by moving over. Wisconsin’s Move Over Law applies to maintenance operations, as well as emergency response units.

Construction schedules are frequently adjusted and updated at co.chippewa.wi.us.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has announced that the extension for drivers over age 60, whose regular driver license expired after March 12, 2020, now expires May 21. The DMV extended the renewal period to help keep higher-risk customers safe during the COVID-19 health emergency.

“With more and more Wisconsin residents getting vaccinated, we believe we can provide a safe environment for these customers to visit a service center and complete this important activity,” said Kristina Boardman, Wisconsin DMV administrator.

Drivers over age 64 will need to visit a DMV to renew their license or it will expire. Social distancing protocols and limited transaction types remain in effect for the time being.

Most drivers age 60 to 64 are eligible to renew their license online at wisconsindmv.gov/renew. This leaves approximately 27,000 drivers age 65 and older, who need to plan for an in-person visit at a Wisconsin DMV Customer Service Center, prior to the deadline.

Customers can reduce their time in the DMV service center by beginning the process online, by using the Driver License Guide to fill in the form and submit it electronically, and by making an appointment through the Driver License Guide.

Drivers who no longer want to use their driving privilege, but who want identification, can easily exchange their license for an ID online. A new ID card will be mailed to them.

Details and other resources for aging drivers are available at wisconsindmv.gov.

The Cornell Lions Club is conducting their 61st annual Community Fund Drive, to provide a scholarship to a graduating Cornell High School senior. The $2,000 scholarship will be awarded at an honor banquet later this spring.

Contributions can be made to the Lions Scholarship Fund at Northwestern Bank in Cornell.

Contributors this week are, David Barry and Bonnie Selmer, Cornell Veterinary Clinic, Thomas Bement, and Bill and Sharon Walters, for a current total of $1,410.