Fatal Roads

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2016

Iowa · year

Iowa in 2016

Deaths 402Fatal crashes 355Per 100,000 12.8US deaths 37,806

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 2016.

In 2016, 402 people died in 355 fatal crashes in Iowa, 12.8 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.7 nationally.

The death toll rose 26% from 320 in 2015 to 402 in 2016.

Iowa accounted for 1.1% of the 37,806 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

26.8% 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 (32%).

30% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201520162017 →All years

Compared with 2015 and the nation

MeasureIowa 2016Iowa 2015United States 2016
Deaths40232037,806
Fatal crashes35528234,748
Deaths per 100,000 residents12.810.211.7
Crashes with a drinking driver27%29%27%

Counties in 2016

Every county with a fatal crash in 2016, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 89 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Polk County27285.4337
Linn County17208.6154
Scott County161910.8164
Johnson County141610.080
Cass County1014107.540
Pottawattamie County131313.9118
Black Hawk County11118.3103
Lee County111134.064
Woodbury County9109.392
Benton County6934.958
Warren County8814.256
Iowa County5848.749
Cerro Gordo County6614.159
Webster County6616.359
Floyd County5640.029
Clarke County4663.025
Wapello County4616.841
Dallas County365.260
Ringgold County1–26130.214
Des Moines County5513.029
Hamilton County5533.730
Henry County5525.835
Madison County5529.130
Mahaska County5522.730
Mills County5534.032
Monona County5559.329
Adair County4567.330
Appanoose County4541.317
Muscatine County4511.948
Chickasaw County3542.718
Carroll County4419.623
Clayton County4423.632
Delaware County4422.722
Dubuque County444.066
Jackson County4420.631
Jasper County4410.545
Marshall County449.955
Sioux County4410.937
Story County443.946
Winneshiek County4420.330
Hardin County3424.331
Sac County3442.021
Butler County1–2428.318
Allamakee County3321.224
Fremont County3346.231
Humboldt County3331.221
Marion County338.837
Plymouth County3311.643
Washington County3313.330
Crawford County1–2318.325
Davis County1–2332.617
Greene County1–2334.622
Jones County1–2314.233
Worth County1–2341.118
Boone County1–21–2—32
Buchanan County1–21–2—23
Buena Vista County1–21–2—20
Cedar County1–21–2—34
Clinton County1–21–2—50
Dickinson County1–21–2—20
Fayette County1–21–2—29
Grundy County1–21–2—16
Louisa County1–21–2—20
Lyon County1–21–2—15
Monroe County1–21–2—15
Poweshiek County1–21–2—29
Shelby County1–21–2—19
Tama County1–21–2—25
Taylor County1–21–2—8
Union County1–21–2—16
Van Buren County1–21–2—11
Kossuth County1–21–2—19
Audubon County1–21–2—13
Bremer County1–21–2—21
Calhoun County1–21–2—13
Cherokee County1–21–2—15
Clay County1–21–2—17
Decatur County1–21–2—23
Franklin County1–21–2—14
Harrison County1–21–2—31
Howard County1–21–2—8
Ida County1–21–2—15
Jefferson County1–21–2—14
Keokuk County1–21–2—14
Lucas County1–21–2—12
Mitchell County1–21–2—14
O'Brien County1–21–2—20
Osceola County1–21–2—15
Page County1–21–2—16

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

12am3.9%
1am2.3%
2am4.5%
3am4.8%
4am1.7%
5am2.3%
6am5.6%
7am4.5%
8am3.7%
9am3.4%
10am3.7%
11am3.9%
12pm2.8%
1pm4.8%
2pm3.4%
3pm6.8%
4pm4.8%
5pm7.3%
6pm5.9%
7pm5.4%
8pm3.7%
9pm5.6%
10pm3.4%
11pm2%

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday12%
Friday18%
Saturday18%

Road type

Other principal arterial32%
Minor arterial20%
Major collector18%
Local12%
Interstate12%
Minor collector6%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Iowa in 2016?

402 people in 355 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2016 file, or 12.8 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Iowa had the most crash deaths in 2016?

Polk County with 28 deaths in 27 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2016 compare with 2015 in Iowa?

402 deaths against 320 in 2015 (+26%). Nationally the 2016 total was 37,806.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2016 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.