WAUPACA, Wis. (WFRV) – The Waupaca County Sheriff's Office has clarified its strategy to combat wrong-way driving, a growing issue nationwide, not solely relying on public education as previously suggested in some misinformation. "Wrong-way driving is a serious problem across the country," said Sheriff Timothy Wilz, with the phenomenon resulting in approximately 500 fatalities annually. Studies indicate that most wrong-way incidents occur at night, with about 60% involving impaired drivers. New ‘electrifying’ marathon coming to Green Bay with mix of live entertainment, races The sheriff's office has reported 34 wrong-way incidents this year, including seven in neighboring counties. Local data shows one incident with injuries, five arrests for operating while intoxicated, one involving an elderly driver, and four incidents where drivers lacked a valid license and faced language barriers. Collaborating with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), the Waupaca County Highway Traffic Safety Committee, and the Waupaca County Highway Commissioner, the sheriff’s office is advocating for safety improvements. Suggested measures include lighted and repositioned signage, enhanced road markings, and even camera technology. Suspect labeled as ‘safety risk’ calls dispatch during Fond du Lac County pursuit of vehicle stolen from rental business, several squads damaged Captain Kyle Wiskirchen recently addressed the Governor's Highway Safety Conference, advocating for better statewide reporting on wrong-way drivers. As infrastructure updates take time, the sheriff’s office launched the "Stay Right at Night" campaign to encourage drivers to use the right lane, as most wrong-way drivers use the left lane. Sheriff Wilz emphasized the importance of accurate information, community involvement, and defensive driving. "While highway infrastructure falls under WisDOT, we’ve been working hard to advocate for improvements locally and statewide to protect everyone on our roads."