Iowa law enforcement will be out in force again this Thanksgiving holiday with increased visibility and aggressive traffic enforcement. The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is announcing extra city, county and state officers will be out in force ensuring travelers buckle up, slow down and drive responsibly in order to save lives and reduce crashes.
This high visibility traffic enforcement event will begin Nov. 25 and run through Dec. 1. “The number one priority of this Special Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) is to save lives,” said Sgt. Nick Sorensen of the Jefferson Police Department. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, nine traffic fatalities occurred during the 2012 Thanksgiving holiday. Six of those nine deaths were motorists NOT using seatbelts.
As of Nov. 8, Iowa has lost 263 drivers/occupants to traffic fatalities during 2013; 40 less than a year ago at this time. Almost 39 percent of these deaths were reported as not wearing their seat belts, while 26 percent are listed as unknown or could not be determined. More than 50 percent of all fatalities, not including motorcycles and pedestrians, are the result of drivers/occupants not taking the time to buckle up.
Iowa Law Enforcement wishes everyone a safe Thanksgiving holiday and requests every occupant buckle up when in a vehicle. The data clearly shows that buckling up alone increases your odds of surviving a serious crash by 50 percent. “Buckle Up! Every Trip! Every Time.”
