Fatality statistics hide the truth

To the editor:

Iowa always makes the top five states in the United States for having an above average of its fatal crashes where large trucks are involved.

The spokesman for the governor's seat belt bureau makes a big spiel about the percentage of occupants in compliance with the nanny seat belt law. Ask him what percentage of the victims were in compliance with that seat belt law that were crashed into by those 80,000 pound big rigs. They're politically correct, even if dead, as long as they're seat belted. Is anyone so duped as to believe he is safe in that nanny seat belt while around or ahead of those big rigs going 70 mph in the fog or ice?

During 1983-86 while Iowa interstates were limited to 55 mph and we didn't have that nanny seat belt law, there were an average of 17 fatalities per year. During 2005-08 while Iowa rural interstates had a 70 mph speed limit and the seat belt law, these same highways averaged 41.5 fatalities per year.

The Republicans only tell us about the total statewide fatality statistics, but will never let you compare the increased speed limit highways with before and after. They'll make a ballyhoo about the statewide numbers being lower which deceitfully hides the above truth.

Herman Lenz

Sumner