The 4th of July is one of the most celebrated weekends of the year, and it is expected to last a little longer than usual with the holiday landing on a Thursday. Iowa State Patrol Trooper and District 4 Public Resource Officer Shelby McCreedy says they want to ensure a safe celebration for everyone, on and off the roads.
More than 70.9 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more for the 4th of July, and over five million of them are expected to be from the North Central Region, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota. This year’s traffic enforcement program theme is “No One’s a Good DRUNK Driver.” McCreedy says law enforcement’s focus, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday), is clear.
According to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB), there were 32 fatalities on Iowa roadways over the Independence Day holiday from 2019 through 2023, half of which were alcohol-related. McCreedy says that is the unfortunate trend regarding the 4th of July.
She adds driving while intoxicated not only endangers your life but also the lives of everybody you encounter on the road. As of July 1, Iowa has recorded 135 fatalities on Iowa roadways so far this year. That figure is nearly 17 percent below the five-year high set in 2023 but only about 5.6 percent below the five-year average and 19.5 percent above the five-year low. The special holiday traffic enforcement begins Wednesday, July 3, and runs through Sunday, July 7.
