Tuesday, November 03, 2009 at 8:44 a.m.
Read more: Local, State, Traffic Deaths, Iowa, Law Enforcement, Crash Areas, Iowa State Patrol
DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) -- The number of traffic deaths in Iowa has dropped this year as law enforcement targets high-crash areas.
The Iowa Department of Transportation says from January through October, 307 people died in traffic accidents on Iowa roads. That's down from the five-year average of 338 deaths during the same period.
Col. Patrick Hoye of the Iowa State Patrol says officers are looking for where accidents are occurring and what violations are causing fatalities.
The drop in deaths follows more arrests for drunken driving, more seat belt usage and safer cars.
Law enforcement is also zeroing in more on places like Polk County, the state's most heavily populated county, which traditionally leads Iowa in traffic deaths.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
