Click It or Ticket!

The Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office will participate in the Click It or Ticket Mobilization effort, intensifying enforcement of Wisconsin’s seat belt law from May 21 to June 3. Additional dedicated traffic patrol shifts will be paid for by the Wis. DOT.

AAA Projects a 1.2 Percent Increase in Memorial Day Travel

MADISON, WI  – AAA projects 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an increase of 1.2 percent – or 500,000 travelers – from the 34.3 million people who traveled one year ago. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 24 to Monday, May 28.

In Wisconsin, nearly 680,000 people are expected to travel for the Memorial Day holiday, a slight .3 percent increase compared to last year, according to the AAA forecast. Of those, more than 612,000 people plan to travel by auto while 36,000 will travel by air. The remaining 30,000 travelers will go by rail, bus or ship. Travelers in Wisconsin will find gas prices averaging $3.74 per gallon, down 26 cents from a year ago.

“The economy has improved slightly, however, consumers faced a new challenge this year as steadily increasing gas prices throughout the spring significantly squeezed many household budgets,” said AAA Wisconsin President Tom Frymark. “People will still travel during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, but many will compensate for reduced travel budgets by staying closer to home and cutting entertainment costs.”

Automobile adds to dominance as lead transportation choice, up 1.2 percent
Approximately 30.7 million people plan to drive to their destination, an increase of 1.2 percent from last year. Almost nine out of ten holiday travelers (88 percent) will take to the nation’s roadways during the Memorial Day weekend keeping automobile travel in the traditional lead as the dominate mode of holiday travel transportation.

Impact of gasoline prices on travel plans
A survey of intended travelers found that 53 percent said recent increases in gasoline prices would not impact their Memorial Day holiday travel plans. Of the remaining 47 percent of travelers who said gas prices would impact their travel plans, nine percent are planning to take a shorter trip, four percent will travel by an alternate mode of transportation and 34 percent will economize in other areas. Those who intend to economize in other areas plan to reduce spending on entertainment (65 percent), stay at a lower priced hotel (34 percent), stay with friends and relatives instead of reserving a hotel room (31 percent) or stay in a hotel that includes value-added amenities like free breakfast and internet (27 percent).

National gasoline prices may have peaked in April despite seasonal highs in early spring when motorists experienced average price increases for all but four days in February and March. April experienced a full reversal as prices fell for 23 of 30 days during the month, helping break a streak of 911 days since the national average price was lower than the previous year.

Increase in sales of inclusive vacations sets emerging trend
As travelers seek to economize budgets, a trend has emerged. To trim costs and maximize travel experiences, an increasing number of travelers are choosing cost-inclusive vacation options like cruises and tour travel packages. These valued added travel options provide consumers an effective way to budget, pay vacation costs up front and decrease entertainment costs during their holiday weekend. Value-added AAA Travel Preferred Partner tours and cruises sold through March 2012 have increased by 11 percent and four percent, respectively, over the same period in 2011.

Number of air travelers expected to decline by 5.5 percent
More than 2.5 million leisure air travelers (over seven percent of holiday travelers) will fly during the holiday weekend, a 5.5 percent decrease from last year’s 2.7 million air travelers. The remaining 4.5 percent of holiday travelers are expected to travel by other modes.

Average travel distance significantly less than last year
According to a survey of traveler intentions, the average distance traveled by Americans during the Memorial Day holiday weekend is expected to be 642 miles, which is 150 miles less than last year’s average travel distance of 792 miles. With high gas prices this spring, consumers are responding by traveling shorter distances this Memorial Day holiday.

The decline in expected air travel is a factor in the travel distance decrease as fewer flying miles can be contrasted with the slight growth in automobile travel. Miles flown for weekend travel are typically longer than those driven. Median spending is expected to be $702, only slightly more than the $692 median spending last year.

Airfares and car rental rates drop, hotel rates rise
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, Memorial Day holiday airfares are expected to be seven percent lower than last year with an average lowest round-trip rate of $189 for the top 40 U.S. air routes. Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to increase eight percent from a year ago with travelers spending an average of $160 per night compared to $148 last year. Weekend daily car rental rates will average $36, four percent ($2) less than last year.

Buying Local Means Great Food and a Stronger Economy

By State Senator Julie Lassa

Did you know you can create jobs, boost our local economy, and help the environment – all while you’re enjoying a delicious and healthy meal?

You can do all these great things when you support local farmers. Now that spring is well along, we have lots of opportunities to buy local produce and other food products. Farmer’s markets are opening throughout the area. And community supported agriculture groups (CSAs) are taking subscriptions for weekly boxes of produce throughout the summer and fall months. Roadside produce stands, pick-your-own and other on-farm sales are other opportunities to buy local food as well.

Buying local is the hot trend among foodies; “locavores,” as they’re called, know that buying local means getting fresher food that requires less processing, which all leads to better quality and flavor. Buying local also lets us know where our food is coming from and gives us a chance to get to know the people who grow it.

But the benefits of buying local don’t stop at your dinner table. Because locally-grown produce doesn’t need to be shipped across country or stored in temperature-controlled warehouses, it can require less energy to bring to market, reducing our demand for fossil fuels and resulting in less pollution. Farmers who raise produce for CSAs and farmers markets often avoid the use of pesticides and other chemicals, which makes the food safer for consumers and also lessens its impact on the environment.

And then there are the economic benefits. The local food movement has created an entirely new market for local farmers and small food producers. Many restaurants now make a point of building their menus around locally-available food products, supermarkets are beginning to feature local items in produce sections, and even schools and other institutions are seeking out local sources for the food they serve. This growing demand for locally raised and produced food is making small agricultural and food product operations financially viable once again and creating jobs in our agricultural sector.

As a leader in local food systems, Wisconsin has developed a vibrant local food economy. Wisconsin is home to the largest producer-only farmers market in the country, and SavorWisconsin.com lists 184 farmers markets statewide. We’re also ranked in the top five for states with the highest number of CSA programs, and the state has seen an increase in retail and institutional purchasing of local food products.

One of the reasons for this growth is Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin, a program I introduced in 2007. Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin is a comprehensive economic development program that includes a competitive grant program along with technical assistance to farmers, communities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations seeking to increase the sale of Wisconsin produced foods. In the first two years of its existence, Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin benefited more than 1,200 producers and 500 markets, and had a total impact of $4.2 million in increased sales.

I’ve also been active in promoting partnerships between school districts and local food producers. In 2010 I was able to pass a law that created the Farm to School program in Wisconsin. This program connects schools with nearby farms to provide children with locally-produced fresh foods in school meals and snacks, help children develop healthy eating habits, provide nutritional and agricultural education and improve farmers’ incomes and direct access to local markets.

A great resource to help you find local CSAs, farmers markets and other sources of local food in Central Wisconsin is the Central Rivers Farmshed website, www.farmshed.org.  Eating fantastic food while you help create jobs and grow the economy – what could be better than that?

Teen Driver Fatality Risk Quadruples with Multiple Passengers

Madison, WI – The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a study showing a strong association between the number and age of passengers present in-vehicle and the risk of a teen driver dying in a traffic crash.

The report, “Teen Driver Risk in Relation to Age and Number of Passengers,” found that the likelihood of a 16- or 17-year-old driver being killed in a crash, per mile driven, increases with each additional young passenger in the vehicle. Nationally, compared to driving with no passengers, a 16- or 17-year-old driver’s fatality risk:

• Increases 44 percent when carrying one passenger younger than 21 (and no older passengers)
• Doubles when carrying two passengers younger than 21 (and no older passengers)
• Quadruples when carrying three or more passengers younger than 21 (and no older passengers)

Conversely, carrying at least one passenger aged 35 or older cuts a teen driver’s risk of death by 62 percent, and risk of involvement in any police-reported crash by 46 percent, highlighting the protective influence that parents and other adults have in the car.

The study analyzed data on crashes and the number of miles driven by 16- and 17-year-olds to assess the effect on a teen driver’s safety of having passengers in the vehicle. Though widely accepted that passengers pose a risk, recent changes – such as the adoption by most states of varying passenger restrictions for novice teen drivers, and a substantial overall decline in teen traffic fatalities – beg the question of just how significant the risk is.

Despite recent progress, the new report confirms that carrying young passengers (under 21) is still a major risk factor for 16- and 17-year-old drivers.

“We know that carrying young passengers is a huge risk, but it’s also a preventable one,” said AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety President and CEO Peter Kissinger. “These findings should send a clear message to families that parents can make their teens safer immediately by refusing to allow them to get in the car with other young people, whether they’re behind the wheel or in the passenger seat.”

According to data analyzed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, in Wisconsin, 174 drivers ages 16 and 17 were involved in fatal crashes from 2006-2010. Of those, more than half (51.2 percent) were carrying passengers under the age of 21.

“The connection between carrying young passengers and increased fatal crash risk is clear, and placing appropriate limits is a key part of graduated driver licensing in Wisconsin,” said Pam Moen, spokesperson for AAA Wisconsin. “By limiting the number of passengers young drivers can have in the car, these policies help ensure that teens stay focused on the road and gain the experience they need to become safe drivers. It’s critical, too, that parents enforce the law and family rules that restrict passengers and help keep their teens safe.”

Additionally, given the significant decrease in risk seen when adults 35 and older were present, parents and guardians can also help protect novice teen drivers by spending more time in the car with them.

AAA Foundation urges families to consider these steps:

• Know the graduated driver licensing system for your state, and remember: even if the law doesn’t set a passenger limit, parents can
• Sign a parent-teen driving agreement that stipulates teens will not ride as passengers of teen drivers without a parent’s advance permission
• Provide transportation alternatives for teens who honor that pledge
• Talk with other parents so they know the rules for your teen and will help enforce them
• Spend time as a passenger when your teen is at the wheel. Your presence and your guidance help make your teen a safer driver
• Visit www.Teendriving.AAA.com for resources that can help teens become safer drivers, including state laws and a parent-teen driving agreement covering safety risks like passengers, cell-phone use and night driving

Car Seat Recycling Day April 28

Wood County (April 2012) — Do you have an old car seat taking up space in your garage or basement? Safe Kids Wisconsin is providing a way for parents to drop off old car seats, free of charge, Saturday, April 28, across the state.

At Car Seat Recycling Day, seats older than 6 years old, purchased at a garage sale or thrift store or involved in a crash will be collected and dismantled to be recycled and disposed of properly. Safe Kids Wood County will be participating locally from 9:00 am – Noon at Marshfield Fire Department, 514 E. 4th Street, Marshfield. There will also be Safe Kids events held at Kohl’s Department Store, 3600 Rib Mountain Drive, Wausau and Kohl’s Department Store, 150 Crossroads Drive, Plover on the same day and time.

All car seats have an expiration date that can be found on the manufacturer’s label. If there is not an exact expiration date listed, a general rule is 6 years from the manufacture date. Seats used after their expiration date may not be safe or hold up in a crash.

Car seats purchased secondhand are dangerous as well. The history of the car seat is unknown and may have been involved in a crash or recalled.

The following also are good seats to bring to the event:
• Seats that have been recalled
• Seats that have broken or missing parts
• Unwanted seats

For more information, call Safe Kids Wood County at (715) 387-8646.

Car Seat Recycling Day is sponsored by AAA®, Safe Kids Wisconsin, Veolia Environmental Services, Safe Kids Wood County, and Marshfield Fire Department.

Recreational Vehicles Auction

Bear Killed after Aggressive Behavior

(Marshfield, WI) – Members of the Marshfield Police Department shot and killed a bear in the 1400 block of Arlington St on April 9th, at 9:54 pm.

The bear’s feeding pattern on April 9th was consistent with those reported to police on April 7th. A resident reported at that time a bear stood on its rear legs in an attack or defensive posture while close to her and her dog; causing her to be fearful of harm. This change in the bear’s aggressive behavior was the subject of much discussion and concern for the welfare of the citizens of Marshfield.

The attempts to live trap this animal with a culvert trap and snares had been unsuccessful. A decision was made by the Marshfield Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to immediately remove any further possibility of danger from this bear by having it destroyed.

At 9:16 PM, the Marshfield Police Department received a call from a citizen who resides in the 1400 block of Arlington Street that the bear was in his yard. The bear once again stood on his hind quarters in a threatening posture. Police were notified and arrived shortly thereafter. The DNR was notified immediately. Officers of the Police Department were instructed not to allow the bear to escape if it appeared that it may attempt to do so. The bear was destroyed prior to DNR arrival.

It is never preferable to take an animal’s life in this situation if avoidable. With regard to this bear, every effort had been made to take it humanely. Further complications of its recent aggressive behavior dictated a necessary and immediate action.

Comparisons of pictures taken of the bear removed from Marshfield in late March with this bear would indicate they are not the same bear.

The Marshfield Police Department continues to encourage residents to remove food sources to discourage the presence of bears. Bird feeders should be at least 10 feet off of the ground and 5 feet away from tree trunks or a limb that would support a bear. Do not compost meat scraps and keep garbage cans in an enclosed building until pick-up day. If you encounter a bear within the community, calmly move away from the animal and notify the police immediately.

Nearly Half of Senior Drivers Worry About Giving Up Their Keys

Nearly half of senior drivers worry about losing their freedom and mobility when it’s time to give up the car keys, according to a recent survey by the American Automobile Association (AAA). As 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day, AAA is helping aging drivers cope with the life-changing transitions facing them with expert advice and easy-to-find resources on its updated website for seniors and their families SeniorDriving.AAA.com.

Concerned by a loss of mobility, nearly 90 percent of senior drivers indicate that the inability to drive would be a problem, with almost half claiming it a serious problem. “By 2020 — just eight years from now — it’s estimated that nearly one in six people will be age 65 or older and most of them will be licensed to drive,” said AAA Wisconsin Regional President Tom Frymark. “No matter how active and healthy seniors are today, it’s evident that anxiety about giving up the keys is an age-old concern. Now is the time for seniors to equip themselves with the tools necessary to stay driving as long as safely possible and have a plan for when driving is no longer a safe option.”

Helping to dispel the all-too-common myth that seniors are dangerous drivers, AAA’s survey also indicates that motorists age 65 and older often “self-police” their driving or avoid driving situations that put them at greater risk of a crash. In fact, 80 percent of senior drivers voluntarily avoid one or more high-risk driving situations. More than half (61 percent) of these drivers avoid driving in bad weather; 50 percent avoid night driving; 42 percent avert trips in heavy traffic and 37 percent avoid unfamiliar roads.

As a leading road safety advocate for 110 years, AAA continues to provide expert advice and helpful resources for older adults and their families – working to support them as they tackle the challenge of balancing safety and mobility. SeniorDriving.AAA.com provides convenient, online access to a wealth of interactive material and AAA’s Senior Driver Safety Expos offer a local hands-on opportunity to sample AAA’s suite of free tools and programs including:

• AAA Roadwise Review – A computer-based screening tool that allows drivers to measure changes in their functional abilities scientifically linked to crash risk.
• DriveSharp – A brain training fitness program clinically proven to make people safer drivers. For a limited time, AAA is providing this program free for select members (an $89 value) at www.AAA.com/DriveSharp. A valid AAA membership number is required.
• Smart Features for Mature Drivers – A guide to help identify vehicle features that can assist drivers with the visual, physical and mental changes that are frequently encountered as they age.

La Crosse student named Wisconsin AAA Safety Patroller of the Year

Anna Jansson, a 5th grader at Coulee Montessori School in La Crosse, has been chosen by AAA Wisconsin as its 2011-2012 AAA School Safety Patrol™ Patroller of the Year. As part of the honor, Jansson receives an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. April 25-29, and recognition on court at the Milwaukee Bucks AAA Safety Patrol™ Night at the Bucks game on March 31.

Nominees for AAA Patroller of the Year are judged on their leadership qualities, safety skills, school involvement, citizenship and volunteerism. Patrollers were also judged on their essay describing how participating in AAA School Safety Patrol™ helped them become better leaders.

“AAA safety patrol has also helped me and my classmates to work on being prompt which shows that you are responsible and you are dependable while providing a safe environment for others,” Jansson noted in her essay.

Anna is a “…leader in school and community groups,” Coulee Montessori School Teacher Josh Shively said in nominating Jansson. She “understands the importance of the position and exercises good judgment”.

AAA Wisconsin also awarded five schools with advancement grants ranging from $100-$200 for their safety patrol programs. Winners include Martin Elementary School in Green Bay, Merrill Elementary School in Oshkosh, Glenbrook Elementary School in Pulaski, Edison Elementary School in Appleton, and Glenbeulah School in Elkhart Lake. All grant applications are also forwarded to AAA National for a chance at additional grant monies.

A proud tradition since 1920, the AAA School Safety Patrol™ now includes more than 600,000 patrollers in schools nationwide. Students who give their time and energy to make the AAA School Safety Patrol™ a success are encouraged and supported by school officials, parent-teacher groups, police departments, and AAA clubs.

Teen Girls Twice as Likely as Teen Boys to Use Electronic Devices while Driving

MADISON, WI., March 28, 2012 – Teen girls are twice as likely as teen boys to use cell phones and other electronic devices while driving, according to a new in-car video study released today by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Electronic devices were the most commonly observed distracted driving activity for new teen drivers of both genders, although video captured many other serious distractions as well.

“Cell phones, texting, personal grooming, and reaching for things in the car were among the most common distracting activities found when cameras were put in new teen drivers’ cars,” said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. “This new study provides the best view we’ve had about how and when teens engage in distracted driving behaviors believed to contribute to making car crashes the leading cause of death for teenagers.”

Distracted Driving Among Newly Licensed Teen Drivers is the first study using in-car video footage to specifically focus on teen distracted driving. Researchers at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center identified the prevalence and consequences of various distracted driver behaviors and distracting conditions among teens during high g-force maneuvers such as swerving, hard braking, or rapid acceleration.

Among the findings: the leading cause of distraction for all teens was the use of electronic devices, which was seen in seven percent of the video clips analyzed. Other than electronic device usage, teens engaged in some form of potentially distracted behavior in 15 percent of clips, of which adjusting controls, personal grooming, and eating or drinking were the most common. Many of the distracting behaviors – including use of electronic devices – were more prevalent among the older teens in the study group, suggesting rapid changes in these behaviors as teens get more comfortable behind the wheel.

Gender played a role in some of the distractions observed. Females were nearly twice as likely as males to use an electronic device while driving, and overall were nearly 10 percent more likely to be observed engaging in other distracted behaviors, such as reaching for an object in the vehicle (nearly 50 percent more likely than males) and eating or drinking (nearly 25 percent more likely). Males, on the other hand, were roughly twice as likely to turn around in their seats while driving, and were also more likely to communicate with people outside of the vehicle.

“The gender differences with regard to distraction observed in this study raise some points that we’ll want to investigate in future projects,” Kissinger said. “Every insight we gain into driver behavior has the potential to lead us to new risk management strategies.”

Driving passengers was also found to influence driver behavior. Potentially distracting activities significantly decreased when parents or other adults were present in the car. In contrast, loud conversation and horseplay were more than twice as likely to occur when multiple teen peers – instead of just one – were present. These distractions are particularly concerning, as they are associated with the occurrence of crashes, other serious incidents (such as leaving the roadway), and high g-force events. Drivers were six times as likely to have a serious incident when there was loud conversation in the vehicle, and were more than twice as likely to have a high g-force event when there was horseplay.

Additionally, the distracted driving behaviors were linked with instances of teens looking away from the roadway. Drivers were three times as likely to take their eyes off the road when using electronic devices, and were two-and-a-half times more likely to look away when engaged in other behaviors. On average, teen drivers using electronic devices took their eyes off the road for a full second longer than drivers not using such a device.

“A second may not seem like much, but at 65 mph a car travels the length of a basketball court in a single second,” Kissinger said. “That extra second can mean the difference between managed risk and tragedy for any driver.”

The data for this report came from an analysis of video clips collected as part of a three-phase naturalistic study of 50 North Carolina families with novice teen drivers. The first study looked at how parents supervise their teens during the learner’s stage of GDL, and the second examined how teen behaviors and driving conditions shift during the transition to unsupervised driving. For the current study, 7,858 clips from the first six months of unsupervised driving were re-analyzed to investigate distraction specifically.

With traffic crashes remaining the leading cause of death for young Americans, the AAA Foundation has an established focus area on teen driver safety. For more information on this issue, and to see the full report and associated video clips, visit www.AAAFoundation.org. Additionally, AAA offers expert advice and science-based tools for teen drivers and their families, available by visiting www.TeenDriving.AAA.com.