Law enforcement agencies from around the state are upping their patrols over the Fourth of July holiday as part of a statewide initiative targeting impaired driving during one of the year’s busiest travel periods. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau’s (GTSB) high-visibility enforcement effort will run from Thursday, July 2, through Monday, July 6, in partnership with state, county, and local departments. The Fourth of July holiday has historically been one of the deadliest travel periods in Iowa. According to available data from the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), the 2025 holiday travel period in Iowa saw more than 520 crashes, eight of which included a fatality. GTSB Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes says, “We want people to enjoy the holiday and to celebrate responsibly. Impaired driving endangers everyone, and our law enforcement partners will be out looking for impaired drivers and will not hesitate to stop them. If you’re going to drink, plan ahead and know how you’re getting home safely.” Planning ahead is the number one way to avoid impaired driving. Celebrants are encouraged to designate a sober driver before the revelry or to use alternate forms of transportation. As of Friday, June 26, Iowa has recorded 131 traffic fatalities so far this year, 12 more than 2025 but slightly below the five-year average for this point in the year.
