Fatal Roads

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2015

Iowa · year

Iowa in 2015

Deaths 320Fatal crashes 282Per 100,000 10.2US deaths 35,484

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 2015.

In 2015, 320 people died in 282 fatal crashes in Iowa, 10.2 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.1 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2014 (322) and 2015 (320).

Iowa accounted for 0.9% of the 35,484 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

29.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on other principal arterial roads (28%).

35% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Sunday was the most common day.

← 201420152016 →All years

Compared with 2014 and the nation

MeasureIowa 2015Iowa 2014United States 2015
Deaths32032235,484
Fatal crashes28228832,538
Deaths per 100,000 residents10.210.411.1
Crashes with a drinking driver29%27%28%

Counties in 2015

Every county with a fatal crash in 2015, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 84 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Scott County182112.0164
Polk County19203.9337
Pottawattamie County131313.9118
Woodbury County121312.192
Lee County101134.064
Warren County91119.556
Benton County41142.658
Black Hawk County9107.6103
Cerro Gordo County6716.559
Webster County5719.059
Mahaska County4731.830
Iowa County5530.449
Johnson County553.180
Linn County552.2154
Story County554.946
Cass County4538.440
Cedar County4527.434
Hamilton County4533.730
Jasper County4513.145
Boone County4415.032
Buchanan County4419.323
Crawford County4424.425
Dallas County443.560
Des Moines County4410.429
Dickinson County4422.020
Dubuque County444.066
Madison County4423.330
Marshall County449.955
Jackson County3420.631
O'Brien County3428.120
Plymouth County3415.543
Jones County1–2418.933
Tama County1–2423.925
Allamakee County3321.224
Clayton County3317.732
Clinton County336.550
Hardin County3318.231
Henry County3315.535
Sioux County338.237
Washington County3313.330
Buena Vista County1–2314.420
Franklin County1–2329.914
Monona County1–2335.629
Shelby County1–2325.419
Appanoose County1–21–2—17
Cherokee County1–21–2—15
Davis County1–21–2—17
Delaware County1–21–2—22
Fayette County1–21–2—29
Greene County1–21–2—22
Guthrie County1–21–2—11
Hancock County1–21–2—13
Harrison County1–21–2—31
Keokuk County1–21–2—14
Kossuth County1–21–2—19
Marion County1–21–2—37
Mills County1–21–2—32
Monroe County1–21–2—15
Osceola County1–21–2—15
Poweshiek County1–21–2—29
Wapello County1–21–2—41
Winneshiek County1–21–2—30
Worth County1–21–2—18
Howard County1–21–2—8
Adams County1–21–2—6
Audubon County1–21–2—13
Bremer County1–21–2—21
Butler County1–21–2—18
Calhoun County1–21–2—13
Chickasaw County1–21–2—18
Clay County1–21–2—17
Emmet County1–21–2—11
Floyd County1–21–2—29
Ida County1–21–2—15
Jefferson County1–21–2—14
Louisa County1–21–2—20
Mitchell County1–21–2—14
Montgomery County1–21–2—14
Muscatine County1–21–2—48
Page County1–21–2—16
Sac County1–21–2—21
Union County1–21–2—16
Wayne County1–21–2—12
Wright County1–21–2—14

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am2.8%
1am1.8%
2am4.6%
3am1.4%
4am2.5%
5am3.6%
6am3.2%
7am4.6%
8am3.9%
9am2.5%
10am3.9%
11am4.3%
12pm6%
1pm5%
2pm5%
3pm5.3%
4pm7.1%
5pm6%
6pm3.2%
7pm3.9%
8pm6.4%
9pm3.2%
10pm5%
11pm4.6%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday13%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday12%
Thursday16%
Friday14%
Saturday15%

Road type

Other principal arterial28%
Minor arterial21%
Major collector19%
Local18%
Interstate10%
Minor collector4%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Iowa in 2015?

320 people in 282 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2015 file, or 10.2 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Iowa had the most crash deaths in 2015?

Scott County with 21 deaths in 18 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2015 compare with 2014 in Iowa?

320 deaths against 322 in 2014 (+-1%). Nationally the 2015 total was 35,484.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2015 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.