1. What does DDACTS stand for?
DDACTS stands for Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety.
2. Why implement DDACTS?
Traffic safety is a serious concern for citizens across Dane County. Between 2021 and 2025, Dane County averaged 38 traffic fatalities annually. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office conducts DDACTS operations as a proactive measure to improve traffic safety. The program is a nationally proven tool for changing driver behavior and reducing traffic crashes.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation crash data is available on its website at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/about-wisdot/newsroom/statistics/countyfatality.aspx
3. Where does this concept come from?
DDACTS is a nationwide law enforcement strategy developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reduce traffic crashes and crime through high-visibility policing and citizen contact.
4. What are the location and time parameters for the DDACTS zone?
The 2-mile zone runs from Fair Oaks Avenue, south of Highway 30, to the Milwaukee Street intersection. It continues east along Milwaukee Street to Walbridge Avenue.
Crash data also indicate the time of day and day of the week when crashes are more likely to occur, allowing for focused enforcement during the most dangerous periods. DDACTS began in mid-May and will run through mid-November.
5. Why was the town of Blooming Grove chosen as the DDACTS location?
As the title indicates, this program is based on historical crash data. According to statistics published by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 416 crashes occurred in this zone between 2020 and 2025. These crashes resulted in 2 fatalities and 125 injuries. Eleven crashes involved pedestrians, and 7 involved bicyclists.
The town of Blooming Grove also presents a unique opportunity for the Sheriff’s Office to enforce in an urban environment, which includes residential and commercial areas with high commuter traffic and a large number of pedestrians and bicyclists.
6. What does the Sheriff’s Office hope to accomplish with DDACTS?
The goal of DDACTS is not to write tickets. The goals are simple: we want to change bad driving behavior, prevent traffic crashes, reduce crime, and overall, make the neighborhood safer.
In addition to enforcement, DDACTS has an educational component. We aim to foster positive interactions with citizens and explain why we are there. Every person stopped by a deputy will receive a flyer explaining DDACTS. In many cases, drivers receive a warning for their violation.
7. What are the initial observations and results of the 2026 DDACTS operation?
Dane County Sheriff’s Deputies have seen some very dangerous driving behavior. Examples of drivers exceeding the speed limit by double are not uncommon. We have multiple examples of impaired driving and red-light and stop-sign violations. In the first two weeks of the operation (May 13-31, 2026), deputies issued 275 citations and 95 warnings.
