No less need for state troopers

In a seven-day run from Aug. 9 to 15, 10 people died in crashes on Iowa interstate highways. The spike in what had been a second straight year of Iowa traffic fatalities well below average was a grim reminder of how quickly a roadway can turn deadly.

It also reminds us of how much we rely on the Iowa State Patrol. Just imagine if there were no troopers who could quickly respond to accidents, direct traffic, sort out facts from tragic chaos, enforce driving rules and assist motorists in emergency situations. Iowa certainly would be less safe, less civil.

The Iowa State Patrol is 75 years old this year, and Iowans need their services as much as ever. When the Patrol's first 50 troopers hit the road in 1935, there were 705,502 registered vehicles in the state. Today, there are more than 3.4 million. Traffic is moving much faster and includes many more and larger trucks than during the 1930s.

State troopers are crucial to maintaining decorum and responding to incidents on the state's interstates. Those highways total 1 percent of all Iowa road miles, yet carry nearly one-fourth of all vehicle travel.

“When troopers are highly visible, it keeps everyone a little more alert,” Capt. Curt Henderson, who oversees the Patrol's field operations, told The Gazette.

No doubt. The State Patrol is still one of the state's most highly respected institutions.

Yet today, troopers' visibility and ability to respond are strained. Their numbers are down about 70 from a peak of 455 in 2000 because of state budget problems. And they're been called on for many duties beyond their primary role of enforcing highway rules and promoting safety.

The State Patrol has coped by using technology and targeting its resources on 22 counties where traffic accidents and violations are more common. But that can raise the risk of being slower to respond in less traveled areas.

As government officials and legislators continue to wrestle with major state budget problems, public safety must remain a top priority. Reducing road trooper numbers even further is not acceptable. Finding adequate funding for the Iowa State Patrol is a challenge that must be met.