A news story from Radio Iowa finds that traffic deaths on Iowa roadways have been running below average, and the state is on a pace to end up below 300 for the first time in years. There were 248 traffic deaths through Tuesday, which is 61 below the same date last year. The head of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, Brett Tjepkes, says the passage of the hands-free law that prohibits people from holding and using their cell phones while they drive is one of the reasons for the drop. Tjepkes says we were on a downward trend before that law came into effect, July 1, but traffic deaths have really been going down since then. Thousands of drivers who’ve been caught breaking the law are getting warnings until January, which he says is a good educational opportunity for people.
