The Iowa State Patrol has compiled it’s figures from the Fourth of July holiday. Jessica Lown, an information specialist with the patrol, says their special enforcement period ran from July 3rd through the 8th.
Iowa State Troopers investigated two fatality crashes over the six day period and charged 51 motorists with drunken driving. Lown says another 2,300 motorists were cited for speeding and more than 600 were handed citations for not wearing a seat belt. Lown says the two fatalities this year, compares to four fatals over the Independence Day weekend last year.
"It doesn’t matter what day the Fourth of July falls on, it tends to be one of our more deadly holidays," Lown says. "We always want to remind folks that getting behind the wheel might be one of the most dangerous things they do on a regular basis, so it’s always a good thing to take a deep breath and remember those basics that you learned in driver’s education."