DID YOU KNOW? In 2019, 42.53 percent of
people who died in fatal car crashes in Iowa
were not wearing seat belts.
Highway Safety
- The latest and most comprehensive highway safety statistics are available at the Motor Vehicle Division website.
- In Iowa, 336 people were fatally injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2019.
- There was one crash every 9.8 minutes in 2018.
- In 2019 roadway traffic crashes (53,831) decreased by 5 percent from 2018 (56,689). Fatal crashes (313) increased by almost 8 percent from 2018.
- There were 86 fatalities that were the result of alcohol-related crashes in 2019.
- At least 42.53 percent of persons fatally injured and 23.82 percent of those suffering major incapacitating injuries were not wearing a seat belt in 2019.
- In 2019, 22 pedestrians were fatally injured and 367 were injured in roadway traffic crashes.
- In 1987, Iowa’s legislature provided that one-half of one percent of Iowa’s Road Use Tax Fund be used for traffic safety improvements or studies on public roads under state, county, or city jurisdiction. The program is funded with about $7.5 million per year in receipts.
- There are 38 full-service safety rest areas and 15 parking-only sites in the state. In 2019, more than 16.5 million people visited these areas.