The number of people killed in car crashes in Iowa is up so far this year.
In 2016 there have been 239 deadly accidents, which is 45 more than where the numbers were last year.
Iowa State Trooper Scott Miller said the rise in accidents is concerning.
“One fatality is too many, I would like it to be zero, I know that is unrealistic but one is too many, so 239, and 45 above last year is unacceptable,” said Miller.
Miller said that speeding is a huge cause for these fatality accidents, but it's also distracted driving, people using their cell phones while driving.
“Their eyes are taken off the road way while looking at the phone and are distracted, and obviously these are why we are having these wrecks.”
Truck driver Donald Cobb said he sees the same thing where ever he goes, people not paying attention to the road.
“Cell phones, people talking on their cell phones, texting, and speeding,” said Cobb.
Trooper miller said that the numbers are not going to go down unless people start to pay attention, and with schools getting back in session, now is the perfect time to get people to focus.
“It is back to school, we have school busses out there, we have children out there walking to school, getting on and off the busses, we need to get the word out to slow down obey the speed limit, and by all means put the phone down, put the distractions down, those phone calls and those texts can wait,” said Miller.
