With an uptick of fatal accidents in the state of Iowa this year, the Iowa State Patrol continues to emphasize safety this holiday week.

Iowa State Patrol Safety Officer Alex Dinkla says a lack of seat belt usage has contributed to nearly half of the deaths of those involved in deadly crashes.

“The fatalities are at a record high this year, and we want to reduce those and keep the numbers down,” Dinkla says. “So far, 41 percent of the people that have died in our car crashes were not wearing their seat belt.”

He reminds everyone driving or riding on Iowa’s roadways to obey the posted speed limit, wear a seatbelt, and avoid distracted or intoxicated driving.