The Iowa State Patrol has an annual goal of less than 300 traffic-related fatalities, however, that goal continues to be unreachable.

District 4 Resource Officer Shelby McCreedy tells Raccoon Valley Radio last year there were more than 300 traffic-related deaths and so far this year, there is a 22-percent increase in fatalities compared to the previous year. McCreedy points out almost half of the over 88 fatal crashes this year were with someone who was unrestrained by a seat belt.

“You could arguably say that for 44-percent of those people who were killed in 2022, their chances of survival would’ve been dramatically increased with the use of a seat belt.” 

McCreedy talks about the overall theme the state patrol has this year to continue to reduce the number of fatalities on the road.

“One of our slogans this year is, ‘The power is in your hands.’ The power is in your hands to buckle up, the power is in your hands to put the phone down, the power is in your hands to survive. We’re trying to get the message out there that in order to increase your odds of survival, you need to slow down, obey the speed limit, buckle up, the standard tenets of safety.”  

McCreedy is hoping that with continued education and awareness of factors to reduce traffic crashes, it will help to also reduce the number of deaths on the roadway.