Iowa law enforcement agencies plan traffic crack down Nov. 24 to 30

The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau announced today that more than 300 law enforcement agencies across the state will be mobilized in a a multi-jurisdictional traffic sting during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Mobilized officers will focus this year — as they have in past years — on speeding, seat belt use and drunk driving. During the 2007 Thanksgiving holiday, there were 13 crashes that resulted in 16 fatalities. Three of the crashes were alcohol related. As of Oct. 31, the Iowa Department of Transportation has reported 323 traffic fatalities so far this year.  That’s 24 fewer than a year ago.

During the 2007 enforcement effort, officers from across the state dished out a total of 18,640 traffic citations, including:

  • 310 operating while intoxicated
  • 1,627 seat belt violations
  • 8,613 speeding violations

In addition, there were 947 collisions handled during the 2007 operation along with 1,517 motorist assists, and 36 felony and 112 narcotics arrests.

In the past year, Iowa has increased its seat belt usage from 91.4 percent to 92.9 percent.

“Iowans tradionally do very well when it comes to seat belt usage,” said Eugene Meyer, commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, in a parepared statement. “But one death is too many. I believe the number of fatalities could easily be reduced if occupants would take time to buckle up, slow down and drive sober.”