Iowa law enforcement will be out in force this Thanksgiving Holiday with increased visibility and aggressive traffic enforcement. The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB), has announced extra city, county and state officers will be out in force ensuring traveler’s buckle up, slow down and drive responsibly in order to save lives and reduce crashes.

The high visibility traffic enforcement event will begin Monday, November 25th, 2013 and run through Sunday, December 1st, 2013. Randy Hunefeld, sTEP Coordinator with the GTSB, says “The number one priority of this Special Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) is to SAVE LIVES. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, nine traffic fatalities occurred during the 2012 Thanksgiving Holiday, which is just not acceptable.” Six of those nine deaths were motorists NOT using seatbelts.

Officials say the data clearly shows that buckling up alone increases your odds of surviving a serious crash by 50%.