DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — New data from the Iowa Department of Transportation shows 42 more people have died on Iowa roads in 2016 than at the same time last year.
The Des Moines Register reports seven people were killed in traffic accidents over the weekend, bringing the total number of motor vehicle deaths to 170 people. That’s 30 more than the five-year average of 140.
The worst month of the year so far has been May, which had 39 deaths.
State officials say a mix of high speeds and impaired or distracted driving have contributed to the higher number. The data shows victims weren’t wearing seatbelts in about half of the deaths.
The department’s driver data manager says he has noted more single-vehicle accidents in which the vehicle left the roadway before crashing.
In Illinois, there have been 472 fatalities as of Tuesday, June 28, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. At this same time last year, there had been 440 fatalities; both Iowa and Illinois have seen the same number of increased deaths to this date.
