Extra state, county and local law enforcement will be on the roads during the upcoming holiday weekend as part of a special effort to crack down on problem motorists before they become a problem to others. Iowa State Trooper Paul Gardner, who’s based in Fort Dodge, says they’re intentionally putting out the word before the Labor Day weekend arrives, to get people thinking about safety.

Gardner says 40 people were killed on Iowa’s roads over the Labor Day holiday last year.

Saturday is expected to be a very busy day on the state’s roads, especially around Iowa City and Ames as Iowa and Iowa State are opening their football seasons at home, while U-N-I is opening its season away — facing the Cyclones in Ames.

The Iowa D-O-T reports there have been 247 deaths on Iowa’s roads so far this year, well ahead of the 213 deaths as of this date a year ago.