Iowa traffic deaths trending lower, but how will 2009 end? (with poll)

State transportation officials are hoping 2009 will go down as one of the lowest years for traffic fatalities in recent history.

But, as always, Iowa weather may be a factor in that outcome. Iowa officials worry a major winter storm heading through the state midweek could play havoc with travel conditions during a Christmas holiday period that historically ranks third-worst for traffic deaths.

A total of 364 traffic deaths had been reported on Iowa highways as of last Friday, a toll that was down 18 casualties from last year but 10 ahead of 2004 – the year that Iowa posted the lowest number of fatalities since World War II at 388, according to Scott Falb of the state Department of Transportation.

Falb said factors related to the recession and high-priced gasoline appeared to be working in concert with highway improvements and increased attention to safety in creating an unusual occurrence of back-to-back years where roadway deaths in Iowa were well below Iowa's 10-year average.

“I think with people either out of work or worrying about the possibility of losing their jobs, I suspect that they've been more concerned about gas prices and maybe have slowed down and not been so aggressive in their driving, which not only puts them at risk for crashes but also burns up a lot of extra gasoline that they don't need to burn,” he said.

Falb said he had been encouraged by the low number of traffic-related accidents involving motorcycles this year but the number had risen in recent months to 49, which was only four fewer than in 2008.

Overall, Iowa's 388 traffic deaths were the lowest total since 366 people died on roadways statewide in 1945. Iowa posted its all-time high highway death toll with 912 fatalities in 1970.

[polldaddy poll=2415151]