The state of Iowa has seen traffic fatalities climb so far this year, and the numbers would back that up. 

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s traffic fatality count, there have been a total of 259 traffic fatalities which is a 25-percent increase over a  five year average and 11-percent higher than last year. Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla says that there have been two common themes that are leading causes to the rising number of traffic fatalities and those motorists traveling at a high rate of speed and not clearing the intersection properly. 

“We highly suggest that we need everybody’s help to do this. So if you are choosing to drive behind the wheel, we need you to be a defensive driver. Be a solution to the problem and make sure that you’re doing the appropriate action each and every time that you are behind the wheel to make sure that you take care of the people in your vehicle, as well as taking care of the people in other vehicles.”

Dinkla also explains other significant factors to traffic fatalities include distracted drivers and motorists not wearing a seatbelt. He says drivers should put away their phones and wear their seatbelt.