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Chief Michael W. Tupper
PRESS RELEASE Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. As of October 20, 2009, the Iowa Department of Transportation reported 303 fatalities on Iowa roadways. This number will likely continue to climb, as we know the Thanksgiving holiday weekend can be deadly. Eight persons perished on our highways over this weekend in 2008 and 16 suffered the same fate in 2007. Iowa’s seat belt usage rate remains at 93%, placing the state in the top ten in the country. The seven percent of Iowans not buckled up however, translates into more than 180,000 drivers and 70,000 front seat passengers traveling everyday on our roadways at a much greater risk of serious injury or death. “Our biggest highway traffic safety challenge remains convincing all motorists to make that 3-second investment to buckle up every trip, every time!” notes Randy Hunefeld, sTEP Coordinator for the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau. Hunefeld further advises that “You don’t always get a second chance in a traffic crash, so why risk it; give yourself that chance by buckling up.” During the last sTEP wave that spanned August 21–September 3, 2009, 237 reporting law enforcement agencies encountered 990 impaired drivers, 3,469 seat belt violators, 14,718 speeders, and a total of 37,889 traffic violations. Officers made 111 felony and 292 narcotics arrests with 383 arrest warrants served. During the same period, 1,964 motorists were assisted and 1,069 accidents were investigated. These contributing enforcement efforts have no doubt had an effect on saving lives and preventing serious injury crashes. The next sTEP wave is scheduled for March 17–21, 2010 in conjunction with the week encompassing the Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend. For additional information, go to www.iowagtsb.org or www.nhtsa.dot.gov or you may contact: Michael W. Tupper Article Published: 11-19-2009 |
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