Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla talks about the decrease of fatalities on the road in the state so far in 2024.

Dinkla tells Raccoon Valley Radio that there’s been a decrease in the number of road fatalities during the first five months of 2024 compared to 2023. There were 132 road fatalities after the first five months of the year in 2023, and according to the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), there’s 89 in 2024. Dinkla notes that even though fatalities are down compared to last year, he reminds people to drive carefully.

“We need to make sure that we’re doing our part behind the wheel to stay safe and that is putting the phone down, making sure we are wearing the seatbelt, making sure we obey the speed limit and making sure we are not driving impaired.”

Dinkla likes to see the decreased numbers, but emphasizes that 89 families, friends, co-workers, etc. are suffering from losing a loved one, and asks drivers to be more attentive on the road.