Public Safety
Gene Meyer ,
Commissioner
Mission Statement:
Provide public safety and criminal justice services that
allow people in Iowa to enjoy a high quality of life in
safe communities and that facilitate economic growth.
Measures:
Traffic fatalities
Alcohol-related traffic fatalities
Seat belt usage
Fire fatalities
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Performance Plan - How we measure our progress
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Strategic
Plan - How we plan for progress
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Performance Report - How we report our progress
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Department Home Page - Learn more about this department
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Highlighted Measure:
Rate of traffic fatalities per
100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Data Source: Department of Public Safety
Updated 8/10/07 |
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Why
this is important:
Traffic fatalities are the largest source of deaths from traumatic and unintentional injuries in Iowa. Traffic crashes far outstrip high profile categories such as suicides, homicides, or fires in terms of the numbers of victims.
What we're doing about this:
Enforcement of traffic laws by personnel of the
Iowa State Patrol and by state troopers and local law enforcement funded
in part by the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau constitute one of the
state's major strategies to combat traffic hazards and reduce traffic
fatalities.
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Highlighted Measure:
Percent of total fatalities that
are alcohol related.
Data Source: Department of Public Safety
Updated 8/10/07 - National
data for 2006 not available |
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Why
this is important:
Traffic fatalities are the largest source of
deaths from traumatic and unintentional injuries
in Iowa. Traffic crashes far outstrip high profile
categories such as suicides, homicides, or
fires in terms of the numbers of victims. While
alcohol-related traffic fatalities have declined
as a percentage of all traffic fatalities in
recent years, alcohol-related crashes continue
to account for about one quarter of all traffic
fatalities in Iowa.
Only Utah has a lower percentage of total fatalities which were alcohol
related.
What we're doing about this:
The enforcement efforts of the Iowa State Patrol and the programming of federal funds by the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau are aimed at reducing traffic fatalities. Enforcement of drunk and drugged driving laws by personnel of the Iowa State Patrol and by state troopers and local law enforcement funded in part by the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau constitute one of the state's major strategies to combat the hazards of drunk and drugged driving and reduce traffic fatalities.
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Highlighted Measure:
Percent of Iowans who use safety
belts.
Data Source: Department of Public Safety, State
Patrol
Updated 8/10/07 |
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Why
this is important:
Seat belt use has been found to be very effective in protecting occupants of vehicles involved in crashes from death or serious injury.
What we're doing about this:
Seat belt enforcement efforts of the Iowa State
Patrol and by local law enforcement agencies
funded by and/or coordinating with the Governor's
Traffic Safety Bureau are aimed at increasing
seat belt use by drivers and passengers in
vehicles on Iowa roads.
Iowa currently ranks #11 in the country in seat belt usage.
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Highlighted Measure:
Fire fatality rate.
Data Source: Department of Public Safety, Fire Marshal
Updated 8/10/07 |
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Why
this is important:
Fire safety is a major responsibility of state
and local governments in Iowa.
What we're doing about this:
The prevention, enforcement, and investigative
efforts of the State Fire Marshal and programs
to train local fire fighters provide the state's
framework for promoting fire safety and support
for local fire fighting efforts.
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