During the 4th of July holiday weekend 512 people were killed in car crashes nationwide in 2013. Six of those were on Iowa roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 39 percent, or 199, of those deaths occurred in crashes that involved at least one driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. And more than 20 percent of the impaired drivers in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher.
Extra law enforcement will be on Iowa roadways during this holiday time watching for impaired drivers. The Department of Public Safety encourages drivers to have a plan before celebrations begin and don’t risk driving under the influence.