DES MOINES, Iowa —

Iowa State Patrol is striving to keep road fatalities below 300 for the first time in 100 years, with 246 deaths reported so far this year.

"We have had this goal for a number of years under 300 fatalities," said Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla.

He noted that 2025 could be the year to achieve this milestone, as traffic deaths are already down 20 percent from 2024. A new hands-free driving law, which went into effect on July 1, is credited with contributing to this decrease.

"This Hands-Free legislation has made a big impact on that. And we're hopeful that, throughout the month of end of the November here through the holiday and the Thanksgiving holiday and into the Christmas time into December, we see that number continue to go down," Dinkla said.

Holiday travel

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