Dickinson County Sheriff's Office

SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA--- State officials have announced the motor vehicle fatality total for 2009
has fallen to a 60 year low, saying much of the success is due to efforts of local, county and
state law enforcement.

Bureau Chief Larry Sauer commented, “Because of the hard work and dedication of officers like
those in Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, fewer people died on Iowa roadways this year.
Iowans should be proud of their local law enforcement officers.”

This year 372 people died in motor vehicle accidents on Iowa roadways. Though it’s a
preliminary count, this is the lowest number of motor vehicle fatalities seen in Iowa since World
War II, when gas rationing was implemented to support the war effort. The all time highest
number of motor vehicle fatalities on Iowa roadways was 912 in 1970. The lowest number of
motor vehicle fatalities recorded in a single year in Iowa was 261 in 1925.

Over the last year local, county and state law enforcement worked together to increase
enforcement on roadways showing a statistical increase in motor vehicle crashes over other
roadways. Officers in all corners of the state, including Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, then
shifted their schedules to work holidays and nights---all times statistically shown to yield more
motor vehicle injuries and fatalities.

“Shifting schedules and working odd hours is often difficult for our officers, but we have to
work when the high risk drivers are on the road,” said Deputy Grimmius. “The hard work paid
off. Working the enforcement projects helped keep this community safe and saved lives on
our roadways.”

Though reaching a new low in motor vehicle fatalities is certainly a milestone to honor, the 372
lives lost are still 372 too many. Your officers at Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office remain
committed to decreasing the fatality number again in 2010.