Fatal Roads

States › Iowa › 2018

2018

Iowa · year

Iowa in 2018

Deaths 319Fatal crashes 291Per 100,000 10.1US deaths 36,835

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 2018.

In 2018, 319 people died in 291 fatal crashes in Iowa, 10.1 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.3 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2017 (330) and 2018 (319).

Iowa accounted for 0.9% of the 36,835 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

23.7% 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 (33%).

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

← 201720182019 →All years

Compared with 2017 and the nation

MeasureIowa 2018Iowa 2017United States 2018
Deaths31933036,835
Fatal crashes29130133,919
Deaths per 100,000 residents10.110.511.3
Crashes with a drinking driver24%26%26%

Counties in 2018

Every county with a fatal crash in 2018, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 81 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Polk County24275.2337
Scott County12137.4164
Linn County11135.6154
Pottawattamie County111111.8118
Black Hawk County7107.6103
Webster County9924.459
Benton County6727.158
Johnson County574.480
Clinton County6613.050
Dubuque County666.066
Warren County6610.656
Mills County5640.832
Pocahontas County3685.611
Cass County5538.440
Cerro Gordo County5511.859
Dallas County554.360
Marion County5514.737
Woodbury County554.792
Clayton County3529.532
Floyd County3533.329
Harrison County3534.231
Adair County4453.830
Boone County4415.032
Cedar County4421.934
Decatur County4452.223
Delaware County4422.722
Hamilton County4426.930
Hardin County4424.331
Henry County4420.735
Humboldt County4441.621
Jasper County4410.545
Jefferson County4425.314
Marshall County449.955
Tama County4423.925
Wapello County4411.241
Clarke County3442.025
Lee County3412.464
Monona County3447.529
Muscatine County349.548
Bremer County3311.821
Crawford County3318.325
Davis County3332.617
Dickinson County3316.520
Fayette County3315.729
Page County3319.916
Plymouth County3311.643
Poweshiek County3316.329
Sac County3331.521
Appanoose County1–21–2—17
Calhoun County1–21–2—13
Cherokee County1–21–2—15
Chickasaw County1–21–2—18
Des Moines County1–21–2—29
Fremont County1–21–2—31
Greene County1–21–2—22
Hancock County1–21–2—13
Ida County1–21–2—15
Iowa County1–21–2—49
Jackson County1–21–2—31
Louisa County1–21–2—20
Mitchell County1–21–2—14
O'Brien County1–21–2—20
Palo Alto County1–21–2—11
Sioux County1–21–2—37
Story County1–21–2—46
Worth County1–21–2—18
Monroe County1–21–2—15
Winneshiek County1–21–2—30
Allamakee County1–21–2—24
Buchanan County1–21–2—23
Buena Vista County1–21–2—20
Carroll County1–21–2—23
Grundy County1–21–2—16
Jones County1–21–2—33
Keokuk County1–21–2—14
Lyon County1–21–2—15
Ringgold County1–21–2—14
Union County1–21–2—16
Washington County1–21–2—30
Winnebago County1–21–2—10
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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday16%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday13%
Thursday16%
Friday14%
Saturday14%

Road type

Other principal arterial33%
Major collector19%
Minor arterial17%
Local15%
Interstate12%
Minor collector4%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Iowa in 2018?

319 people in 291 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2018 file, or 10.1 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Iowa had the most crash deaths in 2018?

Polk County with 27 deaths in 24 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2018 compare with 2017 in Iowa?

319 deaths against 330 in 2017 (+-3%). Nationally the 2018 total was 36,835.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2018 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.