The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) hosted transportation partners and the public Wednesday for the third annual Safer Together Community Event. For the first time, the event was held at Rennebohm Park in Madison to highlight the many partnerships and safety initiatives that aim to improve safety for all transportation users in Wisconsin.
WisDOT filled the park with children’s activities, educational booths and demonstrations showcasing the agency’s safety technologies and programs. Activities included a meet and greet with a State Patrol K-9 team, demonstrations of automated vehicles, drone inspections, work zone traffic control devices, school bus safety, driver education information, and much more.
“We’re excited to show off the great work of the WisDOT team and the many ways we’re keeping safety for the people of Wisconsin top of mind every day,” Secretary Kristina Boardman said. “Our mission is to improve transportation safety by focusing on all modes of transportation, from the officers out enforcing traffic laws, to the DMV examiners preparing the next generation of drivers, and the planners developing engineering strategies to prevent crashes, we’re all working together to find solutions to keep everyone safe while traveling in Wisconsin.”
Safety priorities
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WisDOT prioritizes safety in the maintenance and improvement of all modes of transportation in Wisconsin. The agency follows the Safe System Approach to address transportation safety, which uses a variety of methods to design a transportation system that anticipates potential problems to prevent crashes.
Agency safety accomplishments in recent years include enhanced signage to prevent wrong way driving, heightened public awareness messaging on the Buckle Up Phone Down campaign, new safety research to prevent reckless driving and improve pedestrian visibility, and expanded driver education funding.
WisDOT’s 2026 safety goals include a work zone safety pilot program, enforcing the expansion of the state’s Move Over law, collaboration to improve highway-rail crossings, updates to the motorcycle rider exam, worker roadside visibility improvements, and continued public safety communications.
Importance of safety partnerships
Other Wisconsin transportation safety organizations joined the event to illustrate the collaboration required to meet transportation safety goals across all levels of government, community organizations and the public.
“WisDOT’s ongoing collaboration with transportation partners is crucial to help us gain a better understanding of how our work impacts people in Wisconsin,” Division of Budget & Strategic Initiatives Administrator Lea Collins-Worachek said. “The Safer Together Community Event demonstrates how everyone has a shared responsibility to reduce crashes and injuries and help WisDOT reach its goal of zero preventable deaths on Wisconsin roads.”
Nelson’s Bus Service joined a State Patrol inspector to talk with families about the importance of school bus safety as kids get ready to go back to school. Read important tips for driver and student safety near school buses in our recent news release.
Additional transportation partners in attendance included Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Railroads, UW-Madison TOPS Lab, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Metro Transit, Middleton Fire Department, Children’s Wisconsin and SafeKids Wisconsin, AAA, AARP, Operation Lifesaver, Wisconsin Bike Federation, MG&E, Wisconsin Earth Movers Association and Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association.
