(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol will be participating in what’s being called a “High 3” project for 2023, focusing on two-lane highways, beginning this Wednesday. ISP Trooper/Public Information Officer Ryan Devault told KJAN News the project evolved out of data crunching from three-years of traffic accidents.

Devault says he was surprised to learn from the study that there were 58 fatalities on two-lane roads. That’s because there are more variables contributing to those crashes.

On Wednesday, February 15th, the Iowa State Patrol will be working with other law enforcement agencies and conducting a saturation project on Highway 2, Highway 34 and Highway 92. They’ll be focusing on speed and seat belt usage, in particular. Each month, Devault says, they will be picking three highways to focus on as part of the High 3 Initiative to get the annual fatalities in Iowa below 300.

ISP Trooper/PIO Ryan DeVault, District 3

Trooper Devault said there have been at least 10 more fatalities in Iowa than at this same time last year. He says they’re trying to get motorists to “put the driving back into driving.”

In addition to law enforcement on the ground watching out for speeders and erratic driving, there will be eyes in the skies.

And, just because the focus Wednesday will be on the area two-lane roads, doesn’t mean you can skirt the law by using the interststate. Trooper Devault says they will still have a visible force watching over the four-lanes.