Wisconsin drivers traveling on the state’s roads under supervision of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Labor Day campaign aren’t the only ones being observed by law enforcement officers this weekend. The Wisconsin DNR is advising ATV and UTV riders to “Think Smart Before You Start”. That’s the theme of the 2025 safety campaign of wardens and sheriff’s deputies monitoring the state for risky behavior off the roads this weekend.
DNR off-highway vehicle administrator, Lieutenant Jake Holsclaw, said that “These campaigns have been an effective tool for us to work with our partners and address risky behaviors that lead to crashes.”
So far this year those crashes have resulted in 27 fatalities, a number Holsclaw hopes can be kept from increasing. He said that “Things like operating while intoxicated (OWI), speed and careless operation are always a focus for us. At the end of the day,” he said, “our goal is to prevent fatalities and make our trail and route systems safer for all users.
Holsclaw reiterated a few, unchanging rules: “Anyone who is riding in a UTV needs to have their seatbelt fastened. If you’re under 18, you’re required to wear a helmet”, factors he said that will be checked for compliance so that the last ride on the open trails of the summer season doesn’t become your last ride ever.
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