Wisconsin. Office of Transportation Safety

In 1935 recognition of highway safety as a major concern was evidenced by creation of the Safety Promotion Division of the state Highway Commission (WIHV85-A1883) Chapter 253, Laws of Wisconsin. In 1939, the division went to the newly-formed Motor Vehicle Dept. (WIHV87-A1265) under Chapter 110, Laws of Wisconsin. In 1968 the office became the Bureau of Highway Safety Promotion in the Motor Vehicle Division (WIHV85-A711) in the new Dept. of Transportation (WIHV87-A1884).

Chapter 292, Laws of 1967, created an Office of Highway Safety and a Committee of Highway Safety in the Executive Office. The office was renamed the division and the committee a council by Chapter 276, Laws of 1969. The Governor, by executive order of March 22, 1971, transferred the Bureau of Highway Safety Promotion from the Division of Motor Vehicles to the Division of Highway Safety Coordination in the Executive Office, consolidating responsibility for highway safety in one agency and complying with federal recommendations for state safety promotion programs. Highway safety coordination was returned to the Dept. of Transportation by Chapter 34, Laws of 1979, where it was designated the Office of Transportation Safety. In Wisconsin State Archives' database entries, the name Office of Transportation Safety is used for all relevant records dating 1935 to the present.

At various times, duties of the office have included school safety programs, cooperation with local safety councils, issuance of press materials, investigation of highway hazards, and compilation of highway accident statistics. It coordinated highway safety activities of state government agencies and assisted local governmental units and private organizations. It administered highway safety funds allocated to Wisconsin under the national highway Safety Act, and advised the governor on all highway safety matters.