Iowa on track to have least traffic fatalities in decades as officials urge winter driving preparation

State officials are gearing up for winter conditions and urging Iowans to do the same.

Sgt. Alex Dinkla with the Iowa State Patrol said the agency’s goal is to total fewer than 300 traffic fatalities this year, and with some preparation from Iowans before the snow starts to fall, that goal might be achievable.

“We're hoping that mark can be made this year in the state of Iowa,” Dinkla said. “It's a number that has not been obtained since 1935, so we want to make sure that we really work hard to end the year on a high note, as far as being able to keep roads safe here in the state of Iowa. It's going to be paramount here within the next couple months, as we get into those winter weather conditions. to keep safety at the forefront.”

According to data from Iowa DOT, there were 351 traffic fatalities statewide in 2024, down from 378 fatalities in 2023 — but up from the average of the previous five years, which was 347.

Dinkla, along with representatives from the National Weather Service’s Des Moines bureau and the Iowa Department of Transportation, said in a webinar on Monday that Iowans should start preparing for winter weather and poor driving conditions even before snow hits the ground.

The winter driving recommendations come as meteorologists are predicting above normal precipitation for Iowa this year.

At this point in the year, Craig Bargfrede, winter operations administrator with the Iowa DOT, said the department’s staff have already begun pulling winter driving equipment — like plow — out of storage and running tests to make sure all equipment is functioning.

Bargfrede said the Iowa DOT staff have also been “stockpiling” the materials needed for winter roads, like road salt. He said the department has about 244,000 tons of road salt on hand as of now.

He said the Iowa DOT has been using salt trucks on the roads to make sure the trucks are in operation.

“We are only applying straight water, no brine, at this point in time, but that ensures that all of our equipment is functioning the way we hope it should,” Bargfrede said.

Updates to Iowa’s highway support services

The Iowa DOT’s Highway Helper program provides free incident assistance to drivers on Iowa’s major roadways.

Sinclair Stolle, the DOT’s traffic management systems engineer, said the program has added services in Sioux City, in addition to the services offered in the Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Quad Cities metro areas.

Stolle said the program can help Iowa drivers with jump-starts, tire changes and provide two gallons of fuel to get to a safe location.

“In order to get to call these services, you just need to dial 911, and ask for Highway Helper,” Stolle said. “That is the fast, effective way to ask for our services.

Stolle said the Highway Helper program operates Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

She said this is the first year Highway Helper will have tow truck services, but they will only be available in Des Moines.

Dinkla said drivers should continue to use the Iowa DOT’s 511 service, which provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide. The service offers data on road conditions, traffic cameras, winter road updates and construction alerts for travelers. Iowa 511 can be accessed through the Iowa DOT website, by mobile app and by calling 511.

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What Iowans should be doing

Aside from the work Iowa agencies are doing to prepare for the season, Dinkla said Iowans should be taking a look at their cars and purchasing any tools they might need in an emergency.

Dinkla said this should include drivers taking a look at their car wheels to make sure they have enough traction, or to start shopping for new ones.

He also recommended that drivers check their car batteries, because “if you already have a weak battery, you'll find out very soon that once the winter weather hits, you (won’t be) able to start your vehicle,” he said.

Dinkla said drivers should also invest in new wiper blades and have a car winter kit ready, which could include non-perishable food, a phone charger, water, a shovel, blankets and sand to help give your car more traction.

“It's better to prepare your vehicle for winter weather now, rather than when it's 10 (degrees) below zero,” Dinkla said.

Olivia Cohen covers energy and environment for The Gazette and is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. She is also a contributing writer for the Ag and Water Desk, an independent journalism collaborative focusing on the Mississippi River Basin.

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Comments: olivia.cohen@thegazette.com