TRAFFIC DEATHS. TRAFFIC FATALITIES IN IOWA HAVE GONE UP EACH OF THE LAST THREE YEARS. THIS WEEK, THE STATE RECORDED ITS 300TH DEATH ON THE ROADWAYS. AND ONE STATISTIC REALLY STICKS OUT ABOUT THOSE WHO WERE KILLED. IOWA IS A LONG WAY FROM RECORD HIGH FATALITIES, BUT THE TREND IS NOT A POSITIVE ONE. IN 2020, THE STATE PATROL SET A GOAL OF RECORDING FEWER THAN 300 TRAFFIC DEATHS. THE ACTUAL NUMBER HAS BEEN HIGHER THAN THAT EVER SINCE. AT A KEY FACTOR, 44% OF ALL THOSE KILLED ON IOWA’S ROADS WERE NOT WEARING A SEATBELT. WE MET UP WITH DRIVING INSTRUCTOR RICH STONE TO HEAR WHAT HE’S TELLING STUDENTS. A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH JUST OBEYING THE TRAFFIC LAWS. I MEAN, IF YOU’RE DOING WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, THEN YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE OTHER PEOPLE. BUT IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO BE ON THE DEFENSIVE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. IT’S PRETTY OBVIOUS WHICH DRIVERS AREN’T PAYING ATTENTION AND THE HABIT OF LOOKING AT OUR PHONES DOESN’T SEEM TO BE CHANGING. JERRY TYNESIDE, WHILE DRIVING TO DES MOINES FOR THE EAGLES CONCERT. WHEN YOU’RE HOLDING A PHONE WITH ONE HAND AND YOU’RE IN ORNERY CONDITIONS, THAT CERTAINLY DOESN’T MAKE IT LIKELY THAT YOU’RE GOING TO RESPOND IN A QUICK MANNER TO A SITUATION THAT GOES OUT OF CONTROL. SUDDENLY, WINTER DRIVING PRESENTS ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES. STONE SAYS HIS OWN PET PEEVE IS DRIVERS FAILING TO CLEAR THEIR WINDOWS, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT IT’S COLD. YOU GET THE FROST ON THE WINDOWS AND STUFF AND PEOPLE DO NOT CLEAR THEIR WINDOWS. CLEAR YOUR WINDOWS. TAKE THAT EXTRA TIME. CLEAR ALL THE WINDOWS. NOT JUST THE SPOT YOU CAN SEE OUT OF OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. LAST YEAR, MORE THAN THREE TIMES AS MANY MEN THAN WOMEN WERE KILLED ON THE ROADS. ANDREW MULHOLLAND BACK KCCI 8