Traffic fatalities hit 60 year low in Iowa

Even though there were only four traffic fatalities in Winneshiek County in 2009, the Decorah Police Department and the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Department say they are committed to decreasing the fatality number again in 2010. State of Iowa officials have announced the motor vehicle fatality total for 2009 has fallen to a 60 year low, saying much of the success is due to efforts of local, county and state law enforcement.

372 people died in motor vehicle accidents on Iowa roadways during 2009. That's the lowest number of motor vehicle fatalities seen in Iowa since World War II, when gas rationing was implemented to support the war effort.

The all time highest number of motor vehicle fatalities on Iowa roadways was 912 in 1970, so the number has fallen by more than 50 percent in four decades.

State officials say much of the decline in the number of fatalities is due to the Special Traffic Enforcement Projects (STEP), which use police officers in all corners of the state, including Decorah & Winneshiek County, to target high risk driving behaviors and high traffic weekends. State official Larry Sauer commented, "The hard work paid off. Working the enforcement projects helped keep this community safe and saved lives."