Fatal crashes in Iowa
In 2024, 356 people died in 324 fatal crashes on Iowa roads, 6.1% fewer than in 2023. That is about 1 death a day, and 0.9% of all road deaths in the United States.
Iowa ranks 33rd of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and 30th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in Iowa since 1975
Road deaths in Iowa peaked in 1976 at 779; 2024's 356 is 54% below that. The lowest year was 2013 with 317. 2024 is 20% below 2000 and 47% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 356 | 324 | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 379 | 330 | +12.8% |
| 2022 | 336 | 305 | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 356 | 329 | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 343 | 310 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 336 | 313 | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 319 | 291 | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 330 | 301 | -17.9% |
| 2016 | 402 | 355 | +25.6% |
| 2015 | 320 | 282 | -0.6% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 322 | 288 | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 317 | 290 | -13.2% |
| 2012 | 365 | 330 | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 360 | 329 | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 390 | 348 | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 371 | 338 | -10.0% |
| 2008 | 412 | 368 | -7.6% |
| 2007 | 446 | 393 | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 439 | 386 | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 450 | 398 | +16.0% |
| 2004 | 388 | 354 | -12.4% |
| 2003 | 443 | 383 | +9.4% |
| 2002 | 405 | 372 | -9.2% |
| 2001 | 446 | 384 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 445 | 394 | -9.2% |
| 1999 | 490 | 428 | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 449 | 386 | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 468 | 411 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 465 | 411 | -11.8% |
| 1995 | 527 | 446 | +10.3% |
| 1994 | 478 | 415 | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 459 | 401 | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 437 | 388 | -10.5% |
| 1991 | 488 | 423 | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 465 | 404 | -9.5% |
| 1989 | 514 | 451 | -7.7% |
| 1988 | 557 | 494 | +13.4% |
| 1987 | 491 | 443 | +11.3% |
| 1986 | 441 | 388 | -7.0% |
| 1985 | 474 | 416 | +12.9% |
| 1984 | 420 | 376 | -18.3% |
| 1983 | 514 | 437 | +7.1% |
| 1982 | 480 | 431 | -21.7% |
| 1981 | 613 | 530 | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 626 | 541 | -4.4% |
| 1979 | 655 | 566 | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 638 | 552 | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 628 | 549 | -19.4% |
| 1976 | 779 | 657 | +16.3% |
| 1975 | 670 | 575 | No data |
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads and most dangerous highways in Iowa
I-80 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Iowa from 2015 to 2024: 156, with 179 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 32% of all fatal crashes in Iowa from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 12 US routes, 4 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (38 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in Iowa, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-80 | 156 | 179 | 47 | Pottawattamie, Polk, Scott |
| 2 | US 30 | 73 | 89 | 20 | Boone, Benton, Tama |
| 3 | I-35 | 64 | 72 | 21 | Polk, Story, Warren |
| 4 | US 61 | 60 | 64 | 14 | Scott, Muscatine, Lee |
| 5 | US 34 | 59 | 69 | 17 | Mills, Union, Des Moines |
| 6 | US 6 | 56 | 62 | 19 | Polk, Scott, Pottawattamie |
| 7 | US 20 | 53 | 61 | 11 | Woodbury, Dubuque, Hardin |
| 8 | US 69 | 48 | 54 | 16 | Polk, Clarke, Winnebago |
| 9 | US 65 | 48 | 52 | 13 | Polk, Warren, Cerro Gordo |
| 10 | US 218 | 46 | 50 | 14 | Lee, Henry, Black Hawk |
| 11 | US 18 | 41 | 48 | 8 | Floyd, Cerro Gordo, Kossuth |
| 12 | I-29 | 40 | 46 | 10 | Pottawattamie, Woodbury, Harrison |
| 13 | US 151 | 39 | 48 | 13 | Linn, Jones, Dubuque |
| 14 | State Highway 2 | 34 | 43 | 7 | Lee, Fremont, Ringgold |
| 15 | I-380 | 34 | 39 | 12 | Linn, Johnson, Black Hawk |
| 16 | US 63 | 32 | 37 | 11 | Wapello, Black Hawk, Mahaska |
| 17 | US 71 | 32 | 36 | 8 | Dickinson, Audubon, Clay |
| 18 | State Highway 92 | 27 | 31 | 8 | Mahaska, Adair, Warren |
| 19 | State Highway 3 | 27 | 28 | 8 | Plymouth, Butler, Dubuque |
| 20 | State Highway 163 | 26 | 28 | 10 | Polk, Mahaska, Jasper |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every numbered road in Iowa as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/iowa/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in Iowa
Polk County had the most fatal crashes in Iowa from 2015 to 2024: 309, with 337 deaths. Polk, Scott and Linn counties together held 19% of fatal crashes in Iowa from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 51%. 99 counties in Iowa recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, Cass County has the highest rate in Iowa: 30.5 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 11.0 for the state as a whole. Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are hatched rather than shaded: a few crashes on a highway through a small county make a rate that says more about its population than its roads.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000100K, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polk County | 40 | 309 | 337 | 9.1 |
| 2 | Scott County | 22 | 146 | 164 | 13.1 |
| 3 | Linn County | 16 | 138 | 154 | 7.8 |
| 4 | Pottawattamie County | 9 | 115 | 118 | Not enough data |
| 5 | Black Hawk County | 15 | 95 | 103 | 11.3 |
| 6 | Woodbury County | 10 | 84 | 92 | 10.3 |
| 7 | Johnson County | 8 | 73 | 80 | Not enough data |
| 8 | Dubuque County | 10 | 62 | 66 | 11.1 |
| 9 | Lee County | 4 | 59 | 64 | Not enough data |
| 10 | Webster County | 3 | 54 | 59 | Not enough data |
| 11 | Dallas County | 2 | 53 | 60 | Not enough data |
| 12 | Cerro Gordo County | 7 | 51 | 59 | Not enough data |
| 13 | Warren County | 4 | 51 | 56 | Not enough data |
| 14 | Marshall County | 4 | 49 | 55 | Not enough data |
| 15 | Benton County | 4 | 46 | 58 | Not enough data |
| 16 | Iowa County | 6 | 43 | 49 | Not enough data |
| 17 | Muscatine County | 9 | 43 | 48 | Not enough data |
| 18 | Story County | 4 | 43 | 46 | Not enough data |
| 19 | Clinton County | 4 | 42 | 50 | Not enough data |
| 20 | Jasper County | 3 | 41 | 45 | Not enough data |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/iowa/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in Iowa
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 130 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.5 percent, 111 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 44 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 104 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 77 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.1 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 57 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 81 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 103 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 107 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 67 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 80 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 114 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 69 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.9 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 57 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 67 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 79 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 104 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 64 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.9 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 62 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 102 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 93 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 55 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.3 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 58 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 76 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 91 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 110 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 113 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.2 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 68 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 85 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 114 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 130 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.1%
- Feb5.4%
- Mar6.1%
- Apr7.3%
- May8.8%
- Jun9.4%
- Jul10.3%
- Aug11.7%
- Sep10.2%
- Oct9.0%
- Nov7.7%
- Dec8.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Iowa: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
72% of fatal crashes in Iowa from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, above the US share of 43%; 27% happened at or near an intersection, above the US share of 25%; 28% in the dark on unlit roads, about the US share; most, 54%, in daylight. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Iowa | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 72% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 25% | above the US share |
| In daylight | 54% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 11% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 28% | about the same as the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Iowa roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 73% of the 356 people killed on Iowa roads in 2024; motorcyclists 18% (63), pedestrians 8.4% (30), cyclists 1.1% (4).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 258 | 73% |
| Motorcyclists | 63 | 18% |
| Pedestrians | 30 | 8.4% |
| Cyclists | 4 | 1.1% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 1 | 0.3% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Iowa: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 25% of fatal crashes in Iowa from 2015 to 2024, about the US share; speeding in 20%, below the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 2.0%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 7.0%, below the US share of 8.7%; 45% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the US share of 49%.
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (2,095 in Iowa).
| Iowa | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 25% | 26% | about the same as the US share |
| Speeding | 20% | 27% | below the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.0% | 8.7% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 45% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.0% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 16% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a rollover in 13%, a pedestrian in 7.2%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 1,357 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 884 | 28% |
| Rollover | 402 | 13% |
| Pedestrian | 226 | 7.2% |
| Other | 160 | 5.1% |
| Cyclist | 68 | 2.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 42 | 1.3% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Iowa
Cars were 31% of the 4,601 vehicles in fatal crashes in Iowa from 2015 to 2024, pickups 19%, SUVs 17%, motorcycles 12%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 1,446 | 31% |
| Pickups | 856 | 19% |
| SUVs | 787 | 17% |
| Motorcycles | 553 | 12% |
| Truck-tractors | 450 | 9.8% |
| Vans | 271 | 5.9% |
| Other trucks | 223 | 4.8% |
| Buses | 15 | 0.3% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in Iowa per resident and per mile driven
| Iowa | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 11.0 | 11.5 | about the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 11.0 | 11.8 | below the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.05 | 1.19 | below the US rate |
Population 3,241,488 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 33,817 million vehicle-miles (FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, table VM-2). The only figures on this page not counted from FARS.
Questions about fatal crashes in Iowa
- How many people died in car accidents in Iowa in 2024?
- 356 people died in 324 fatal crashes on Iowa roads in 2024, 6.1% fewer than in 2023. That is 11 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.5 across the United States. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Iowa?
- I-80 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Iowa from 2015 to 2024: 156, with 179 deaths. US 30 was second with 73.
- Which county in Iowa has the most fatal crashes?
- Polk County, with 309 fatal crashes and 337 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 40 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in Iowa happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 130 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Iowa involved a drinking driver?
- 798 of 3,140 fatal crashes in Iowa from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 25%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for Iowa
Every county in Iowa with 30 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, roads, hour and weekday, and deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Polk County 309
- Scott County 146
- Linn County 138
- Pottawattamie County 115
- Black Hawk County 95
- Woodbury County 84
- Johnson County 73
- Dubuque County 62
- Lee County 59
- Webster County 54
- Dallas County 53
- Cerro Gordo County 51
- Warren County 51
- Marshall County 49
- Benton County 46
- Muscatine County 43
- Story County 43
- Iowa County 43
- Clinton County 42
- Jasper County 41
- Plymouth County 39
- Wapello County 37
- Sioux County 34
- Cass County 32
- Marion County 32
- Cedar County 31
- Boone County 30
- Clayton County 30
- Fremont County 30
- Henry County 30
- Madison County 30
Road pages for Iowa
Every numbered road in Iowa with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Iowa numbers come from
Every figure on this page except the rates is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I-35", "I 35" and "I-35/PURPLE HEART TRL" are the same road); frontage roads and ramps ("I35 FRONTAGE") are left out of road counts. Totals from the state highway department and news reports can differ by a few: they count from the state's own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked and revised once a year. Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". Rates per resident and per mile use Census Bureau population estimates and FHWA vehicle-miles, the only figures not counted from FARS. The full method.