An early review of accident reports shows the number of traffic fatalities during the New Year’s weekend were down. Jim Saunders, spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol. Saunders says there were three fatalities last year, and the state patrol and local officials had extra officers out looking for alcohol related violations.
Saunders says he could find only one report of a fatal accident that happened in Monroe County on the 31st just outside of Albia. Saunders says there was a major national campaign to look for traffic violations and drunken drivers right before the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Saunders says that effort was designed to raise awareness. He says that period between Christmas and New Year’s tends to see a lot of people out driving, and he says that national effort helps raise the awareness. There was some winter weather during the weekend, and Saunders says it does have an impact on the state roads the troopers patrol.
Saunders says for many of these holidays, such as New Year’s, people tend to travel locally, and not long distances to celebrate. He says that’s why the state focuses on educating people about getting a designated driver and other safety issues. Saunders says there may be other fatal accidents that happened during the New Year’s holiday that were investigated by local officers and will eventually be reported to the state.