Winneshiek County to Join GTSB High Five Rural Traffic Safety Project

The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) has selected Winneshiek County to become one of five new counties to participate in the High Five Rural Traffic Safety Project. 

High Five was created by GTSB to address occupant protection concerns in rural communities, increase seat belt use, and reduce fatalities and serious injuries involving unprotected vehicle occupants.

Over the next three years, GTSB will partner with local law enforcement, public safety agencies, community organizations, and residents. The initiative will employ a multi-approach combining enforcement, education, and engineering strategies tailored to each county’s individual needs.

These high-priority counties were identified through extensive data analysis conducted by the ISU Institute for Transportation, examining crash and occupant-protection data to isolate higher-than-state-average rates of unprotected fatalities and serious injuries, allowing GTSB to direct resources where they can make the most meaningful difference.

The GTSB says High Five has a proven track record of measurable progress. In the five most recent participating counties, which included  Mitchell County, unrestrained motorist fatalities plummeted from about 90% in 2024 down to 50% following three years of targeted public awareness and high-visibility enforcement. Serious injuries for unprotected occupants also declined from 51% to 30%, dropping below the state average of 34%.

GTSB Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes said of High Five, “Ultimately, this work is about saving lives.”

The project is a key component of Iowa’s broader traffic safety momentum. In 2025, Iowa recorded a historic low of 259 traffic fatalities and is currently on track for 2026 to be another year projected with below 300 fatalities.