Fatal Roads

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2017

Iowa · year

Iowa in 2017

Deaths 330Fatal crashes 301Per 100,000 10.5US deaths 37,473

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 2017.

In 2017, 330 people died in 301 fatal crashes in Iowa, 10.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.5 nationally.

The death toll fell 18% from 402 in 2016 to 330 in 2017.

Iowa accounted for 0.9% of the 37,473 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

25.9% 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%).

32% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201620172018 →All years

Compared with 2016 and the nation

MeasureIowa 2017Iowa 2016United States 2017
Deaths33040237,473
Fatal crashes30135534,560
Deaths per 100,000 residents10.512.811.5
Crashes with a drinking driver26%27%27%

Counties in 2017

Every county with a fatal crash in 2017, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 86 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Polk County24265.0337
Linn County15166.9154
Marshall County111229.755
Pottawattamie County101212.8118
Cerro Gordo County71228.259
Dubuque County101010.166
Iowa County7954.849
Black Hawk County886.0103
Johnson County885.080
Scott County884.6164
Woodbury County687.592
Monona County7783.029
Decatur County6791.423
Tama County5635.825
Poweshiek County3632.529
Benton County5519.458
Story County554.946
Floyd County4533.329
Harrison County4534.231
Warren County458.956
Webster County4513.559
Audubon County4471.913
Calhoun County4441.213
Jackson County4420.631
Jasper County4410.545
Lee County4412.464
Muscatine County449.548
Palo Alto County4445.411
Plymouth County4415.543
Wayne County4460.412
Osceola County3466.315
Wapello County3411.241
Buchanan County3314.523
Carroll County3314.723
Des Moines County337.829
Fayette County3315.729
Fremont County3346.231
Jefferson County3319.014
Madison County3317.530
Mills County3320.432
Shelby County3325.419
Sioux County338.237
Washington County3313.330
Clarke County1–2331.525
Montgomery County1–2329.814
Sac County1–2331.521
Adair County1–21–2—30
Allamakee County1–21–2—24
Appanoose County1–21–2—17
Butler County1–21–2—18
Cedar County1–21–2—34
Dallas County1–21–2—60
Delaware County1–21–2—22
Guthrie County1–21–2—11
Hancock County1–21–2—13
Henry County1–21–2—35
Kossuth County1–21–2—19
Louisa County1–21–2—20
Lucas County1–21–2—12
Lyon County1–21–2—15
Pocahontas County1–21–2—11
Ringgold County1–21–2—14
Taylor County1–21–2—8
Winnebago County1–21–2—10
Winneshiek County1–21–2—30
Boone County1–21–2—32
Buena Vista County1–21–2—20
Cass County1–21–2—40
Cherokee County1–21–2—15
Clay County1–21–2—17
Clayton County1–21–2—32
Clinton County1–21–2—50
Dickinson County1–21–2—20
Franklin County1–21–2—14
Greene County1–21–2—22
Grundy County1–21–2—16
Hamilton County1–21–2—30
Humboldt County1–21–2—21
Ida County1–21–2—15
Jones County1–21–2—33
Keokuk County1–21–2—14
Mahaska County1–21–2—30
Marion County1–21–2—37
Union County1–21–2—16
Van Buren County1–21–2—11
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

12am3.3%
1am2.7%
2am2.7%
3am3.7%
4am3.7%
5am2.3%
6am3.3%
7am5.7%
8am5.4%
9am2.3%
10am0.3%
11am4.3%
12pm6%
1pm5.4%
2pm5.4%
3pm4.7%
4pm6%
5pm5%
6pm7%
7pm3.3%
8pm5.4%
9pm2.3%
10pm4.7%
11pm5%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday16%
Tuesday15%
Wednesday10%
Thursday8%
Friday17%
Saturday18%

Road type

Other principal arterial28%
Major collector18%
Local18%
Minor arterial17%
Interstate9%
Minor collector9%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Iowa in 2017?

330 people in 301 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2017 file, or 10.5 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Iowa had the most crash deaths in 2017?

Polk County with 26 deaths in 24 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2017 compare with 2016 in Iowa?

330 deaths against 402 in 2016 (+-18%). Nationally the 2017 total was 37,473.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2017 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.