(Des Moines) Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla says 2023 showed increased traffic fatalities at intersections and lane departures. As of Friday, December 30, traffic fatalities were nearly 13 percent higher than at this same time one year ago.
Dinkla says that each year, the state patrol breaks down that data to look at trends that can be improved and find hot spots. He says the preliminary data shows increased traffic fatalities at intersections and lane departures.
Sergeant Dinkla says a “hands-free” would drive down crashes and fatalities. He says as far as lane departures, there is something those drivers are doing to cause them to leave their lane.
The sergeant says another disturbing trend is the lack of wearing a seatbelt.
According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, as of Friday, December 29, 375 people died on Iowa’s roadways in 2023. That is an increase of 41 deaths over one year ago.
