Police urge drivers to be safe, smart during holiday weekend

There were no fatalities in Iowa in 2015 during the three-day July 4th weekend, and law enforcement agencies are hoping for similar results this year.

The Independence Day weekend is best known for celebrations with family and friends, enjoying the summer weather with food and drinks. Those celebrations often include drinking alcohol, which can lead to impaired driving, according to law enforcement officers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 164 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving at least one driver with a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 or higher over the three-day Fourth of July holiday.

In reality, 40 percent of the total fatalities were more than likely preventable. The rate of alcohol impairment for drivers involved in fatal crashes was over three times higher at night than during the day. To date, there have been 154 fatalities on Iowa roadways this year, up 31, or 25 percent from this time last year.

State and local law enforcement agencies will step up their efforts Friday evening, July 1, through the morning of Tuesday, July 5, to eliminate drunk drivers on the roads and reduce speeding in order to protect all of the motoring public.

What can motorists do to reach their destination safely not only this Fourth of July, but every day?

? Do not drive. If you have been drinking, plan ahead and arrange a way to get home.

? Buckle up. It is the single most effective way to prevent serious injury if you should be involved in a crash.

? Don?t speed. Speeding has been a factor in about 30 percent of crash deaths since 2005, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety?s (DPS) and Iowa Governor?s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) hope Iowans have a safe and happy Fourth of July.