With most Iowans gearing up for Super Bowl LIX this weekend, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) and law enforcement agencies across Iowa are reminding football fans to make responsible choices. Their message is “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.” Over the last five years, 37 percent of Iowa’s traffic fatalities involved some form of chemical impairment, and officials stress the importance of planning ahead. Nationally, drunk driving claims 37 lives per day. In a message to Iowans, the GTSB says, “If you’re going to a Super Bowl party and you plan to drink alcohol, plan a designated driver. If you’re hosting a party, prepare plenty of food and non-alcoholic drink options. If you’re a designated driver, be the night’s MVP and keep that commitment front and center.” Motorists should expect to see additional law enforcement statewide through the weekend. As of this morning, Iowa has already recorded 19 traffic fatalities this year, an 11.8 percent increase from 2024 and nearly 20 percent over the state’s five-year low.
