Fatal traffic crashes in Iowa dropped nearly 18-percent last year compared to 2016. Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Nate Ludwig believes a new state law designed to curb distracted driving was a factor.
Preliminary figures from the Iowa D-O-T show 330 people died in traffic crashes across the state in 2017. That’s down from 402 in 2016. While the texting law may’ve helped reduce fatal crashes, Ludwig still believes too many drivers are putting their lives and others at risk because they won’t stay off their phones.
Another factor in the decline in fatal traffic crashes may be the relatively mild start to this winter. There were more than twice as many fatal crashes in November of 2016 (35) compared to the same month last year.
