Associated Press

APPLETON – Wisconsin road deaths are on the decline again this year.

Donald Lyden, safety research analyst with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, said 215 people have died in traffic crashes as of June 30, compared to 226 on the same date in 2013.

Last year 527 people died on Wisconsin's roadways, a major decline from the 601 fatalities in 2012, according to Post-Crescent Media.

Lyden attributed the decline to a number of factors, including improvements and upgrades to Wisconsin highways, a focus by law enforcement on arresting drunken drivers, citing speeders and an ongoing emphasis on safety campaigns and programs.

"There's been an increase in law enforcement, safer vehicles and safer highways — along with better-constructed roads and intersections," Lyden said.

Lyden said fatalities usually spike in June, July and August because people drive faster. But if June statistics are any measure, the summertime surge might not materialize this year.

The DOT reported on Thursday that last month was the second-safest June in terms of traffic deaths since the end of World War II. Traffic fatalities in June 2014 were 12 fewer than in June 2013.