By Hola Iowa
The statewide campaign will run from July 2 through July 6. During last year’s holiday travel period, Iowa recorded more than 520 crashes and eight traffic deaths.
Iowa will increase law enforcement presence on roads from July 2 through July 6 as part of a statewide campaign to reduce impaired driving during Fourth of July weekend.
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB), part of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, will work with local law enforcement agencies on a high-visibility campaign during the holiday period. The enforcement effort comes as families travel for Independence Day and communities mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.
During the 2025 Fourth of July travel period, from July 3 to July 6, Iowa recorded more than 520 crashes and eight deaths, according to Iowa DOT Crash Analysis Tool data published by the Department of Public Safety.
The statewide campaign will run from July 2 through July 6
The traffic safety operation will begin Thursday, July 2, and end Monday, July 6.
Participating agencies will focus on identifying impaired drivers during the holiday celebrations. The campaign also comes during a period of heavier traffic tied to family trips, community events, fireworks and long-weekend gatherings.
GTSB reported that local agencies will take part in a high-visibility enforcement campaign, a strategy that places more officers on roads during dates with a higher risk of crashes involving alcohol or drugs.
The state’s message centers on arranging a safe ride before heading out to celebrate. The campaign points to options such as a designated sober driver, taxi, rideshare service or local sober ride programs where available.
More than 520 crashes occurred during the previous holiday period
Fourth of July has been one of the most dangerous times of the year on Iowa roads.
During the 2025 holiday period, Iowa recorded more than 520 crashes and eight deaths between July 3 and July 6. Those figures are part of the context GTSB is using to support this year’s campaign.
Holiday travel can overlap with celebrations involving alcohol, nighttime outings and longer drives between cities or rural areas. The statewide campaign is intended to reduce crashes before, during and after the celebrations.
Brett Tjepkes, chief of the GTSB, said law enforcement agencies will be looking for impaired drivers and will not hesitate to stop them. He also said people who plan to drink can arrange in advance how they will get home.
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Uber vouchers will be available for sober rides
Doll Distributing will offer a $10 Uber voucher through the Decide To Ride program.
The voucher will be valid statewide from 5:00 p.m. on July 3 until 2:00 a.m. on July 6. The promotion will be limited to the first 1,000 redemptions.
The measure is designed to make sober rides easier during the busiest hours of the holiday weekend. The period covers the night before the Fourth of July, the main celebration and the end of the weekend.
The Decide To Ride program is part of efforts to reduce alcohol-related crashes during high-travel dates. In Iowa, the campaign runs alongside the GTSB and local agency patrol operation.
Traffic safety will be part of the weekend operation
The Iowa Department of Public Safety reported that GTSB works with state, county, municipal and local organizations to reduce deaths and injuries on Iowa roads through federally funded traffic safety grants.
The Fourth of July campaign will focus on driving decisions during the holiday period. Impaired driving can lead to arrests, fines, license suspension, court costs and a higher risk of crashes involving injuries or deaths.
Weekend travel can also put more families on interstate highways, rural roads and routes leading to local celebrations. The additional enforcement will remain active throughout the full July 2 to July 6 period.
State program contact
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is housed within the Iowa Department of Public Safety, at 215 E. 7th St., Des Moines, IA 50319.
The GTSB press office listed Nicole Hassenstab, media and communications specialist for the bureau, as the contact. The main phone number listed for the program is 515-321-7267.
Iowa’s Fourth of July patrol campaign will be active from Thursday, July 2, through Monday, July 6. The $10 Uber voucher will be available from July 3 at 5:00 p.m. to July 6 at 2:00 a.m., with a limit of 1,000 uses.
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