After one of the worst years for traffic fatalities, 2017 is shaping up to be a safer year for Iowa roadways. 2016 was the deadliest year on Iowa roads in over a decade with 402 reported deaths. Those numbers are down this year.

So far in 2017, there have been 279 traffic fatalities in Iowa. This time last year, there were 313. So far the first nine months of this year compared to last year, fatalities are down just over 12%. If this year holds on its current pace, it will closely resemble other totals from 2012 through 2015.

No one is sure what caused the spike in deaths in 2016. Some point to statistics and say it was simply an anomaly. Officials say that increased traffic laws, including the new texting while driving law will help keep Iowa roadways safer and bring fatality numbers down even more.

 

[via Gazette]

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