Traffic fatalities in Iowa are up 23% from last year according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. As of November 6th, there have been 335 crash-related fatalities this year on Iowa roads. Nine of those have taken place in Cass County. The latest deaths occurred early last Friday morning, and early Sunday morning.  The medical staff at Cass County Health System has issued a statement in response to this increase.

“As healthcare providers our goal is to help our patients protect their health.  Many times we do that by treating and monitoring chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.  Motor vehicle accidents are a different type of health condition, but one we are equally concerned about.   We urge everyone to stop and think before you drive—it’s something we do so often we sometimes take driving safety for granted.

• Don’t drive when you are distracted by other things, whether it’s texting, talking on the phone, reading a map or any of the many things that can take your attention from the road.
• Don’t drink and drive.
• Do wear your seatbelt every time you are in a motor vehicle.

We want to see our patients in the clinic, not the emergency department!”

According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, in 2014, 9,385 people nationwide lost their lives as a result of not buckling their seat belt; and in Iowa in 2014, 118 of the 322 crash fatalities were not buckled up. The Iowa DOT’s Traffic Fatality Count reports that 40.91% of the fatalities during 2016 were without a seat belt.