Iowa Traffic Fatalities to Fall Short of 300 for First Time in 100 Years

With Wednesday (12.31) the final day of  2025, the number of traffic fatalities on Iowa’s roads is trending towards reaching a milestone not seen in 100 years.

That’s Trooper Tom Williams with the Iowa State Patrol District office in Mason City, who adds that more fatalities could be averted by drivers making safer choices.

Williams says it also takes a joint effort to lower the fatality count.

Fewer fatalities also means fewer times Williams has to carry out the toughest part of his job.

As of Wednesday, the fatality count from the Iowa DOT stood at 260.

If that number holds through the end of the year, that would be 97 fewer fatalities than in 2024 and 119 less than in 2023.

The 379 traffic fatalities in 2023 was the most since the peak number of traffic fatalities in Iowa in one year set in 2016 at 402 traffic fatalities.