By RYAN SKAITH
According to preliminary data from the Iowa Department of Transportation, traffic fatalities in 2025 reached their lowest level in a century.
The state recorded a total of 260 deaths through December 31, representing a significant decline of 97 fatalities compared to the 2024 year-end figures.
While the current count is promising, the Iowa DOT waits 30 days after the close of the calendar year before certifying the final total. This grace period ensures that the data accounts for individuals who may succumb to injuries sustained in crashes that occurred during the final weeks of December.
The year ended on a notably safe note, with December recording only 10 deaths, the lowest monthly total of 2025. This marked a sharp decrease of 26 fatalities compared to December of the previous year. Conversely, August proved to be the deadliest month on Iowa roads with 36 fatalities—the only month in 2025 to exceed 30 deaths.
