267 CRASHES IN
IOWA, IA
2015

Motor vehicle occupants represented the vast majority of casualties in 2015. One motorist was killed and 69 were injured. In addition, three pedestrians were injured in crashes during this period. No cyclist fatalities or injuries were reported.

Crashes in Floyd County during 2015 occurred most frequently on Fridays, with 48 incidents reported. The single busiest hour for crashes was the 5 p.m. hour, which saw 26 crashes. Overall, 135 crashes, representing 50.6% of the total, happened during daylight hours.

Of the 267 crashes, 209 (78.3%) resulted in no injuries, being property-damage-only incidents. The remaining crashes included 57 that caused non-fatal injuries and one fatal crash. This single fatal crash resulted in one fatality.

The most frequently cited contributing factor in Floyd County crashes was 'Animal,' which was involved in 74 incidents, or 27.7% of all crashes. Following this, 'Driving too fast for conditions' was noted in 20 crashes (7.5%), while 'Lost Control' and 'Ran off road - left' were each factors in 17 crashes (6.4%).

A substantial portion of crashes occurred in ideal conditions, with 130 incidents (48.7%) happening in clear weather and 123 (46.1%) on dry road surfaces. Crashes during daylight hours accounted for 135 incidents (50.6%). Adverse road surface conditions were present in numerous crashes, including 34 on ice or frost and 26 on snow.

Analysis of persons involved in crashes shows the 35-44 age group was most represented, with 74 individuals, followed by the 45-54 age group with 72 individuals. Among the 397 vehicles involved, Chevrolet was the most frequent make with 87 vehicles, followed by Ford with 66, and Dodge with 27.

The leading major cause of crashes was interaction with an animal, cited in 74 incidents. 'Driving too fast for conditions' was the second most common cause, contributing to 20 crashes. 'Ran off road - left' and 'Lost Control' were each identified as the major cause in 17 crashes.

The most common first harmful event was a 'Collision with a vehicle in traffic,' which occurred in 108 crashes. The second most frequent event was a 'Collision with an animal,' recorded in 74 crashes. Other notable events included 'Overturn/rollover' and collision with a ditch, each accounting for 14 incidents.

Crashes were more likely to occur away from intersections, with 96 incidents recorded at non-junction locations. A total of 87 crashes occurred at intersections, with four-way intersections being the most common type, accounting for 62 of these incidents. Driveway-related crashes contributed another 14 incidents.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, with 168 units recorded. Sport utility vehicles were the second most frequent with 84 units, followed by four-tire light trucks with 67. Tractor/semi-trailers were involved in 22 crashes, and motorcycles were involved in 4.

The vast majority of crashes, 237, occurred where no traffic controls were present. Crashes at locations with traffic signals accounted for 51 incidents, while those with stop signs accounted for 36 incidents.

The most common area of vehicle damage was the front, which was the primary impact point for 84 vehicles. Front-corner impacts were also frequent, with 47 vehicles damaged on the driver-side front corner and 38 on the passenger-side front corner. Rear-end damage was recorded for 22 vehicles.

Within Floyd County, Charles City had the highest volume of crashes, with 126 incidents recorded. Other municipalities with notable crash counts include Nora Springs with 9 crashes, and both Rockford and the town of Floyd with 7 crashes each. A total of 161 crashes were recorded within city limits, while the remaining 106 occurred in unincorporated areas of the county.

The vast majority of crashes, 247, occurred on paved roads. Crashes on unpaved surfaces such as gravel or dirt accounted for 18 incidents, representing approximately 6.8% of crashes where the road surface type was specified.

Among roadway-related contributing factors, 'Surface condition,' such as wet or icy roads, was the most cited factor, contributing to 43 crashes. Other factors were noted less frequently, with 'Debris,' 'Ruts/holes/bumps,' and 'Shoulders' each contributing to 2 crashes. One crash was related to a work zone.

In cases where a driver's condition was noted as a factor, being 'Asleep/fatigued' was the most common, recorded for 8 drivers. An emotional state was cited for 4 drivers, while 3 were noted as being under the influence of alcohol. Medical conditions were a factor for 2 drivers.

The estimated property damage for the majority of crashes, 198 incidents, fell within the $1,500 to $7,500 range. A smaller number of crashes resulted in higher damage, with 58 incidents estimated between $7,500 and $25,000. Eight crashes, or 3.0% of the total, involved property damage exceeding $25,000.

Nearly half of all incidents, 129 crashes or 48.3%, were single-vehicle, non-collision events. Among multi-vehicle crashes, the most common type was a broadside collision, accounting for 51 incidents (19.1%). Rear-end collisions were the next most frequent manner, with 23 crashes (8.6%).

Prior to impact, the most common driver action was 'Movement essentially straight,' recorded for 246 vehicles. Turning maneuvers were also common pre-crash actions, with 33 vehicles turning left and 20 vehicles turning right. A total of 11 vehicles were stopped in traffic before being involved in a collision.

A total of 470 individuals were involved in crashes in 2015. The vast majority of these, 455 people or 96.8%, were drivers. The remaining individuals included 12 passengers and 3 pedestrians.

Across all 470 people involved in crashes, a total of 73 casualties were recorded. This included one fatality, 8 serious injuries, 21 minor injuries, and 43 possible injuries. The remaining 397 individuals were not injured.

Among the 67 vehicle occupants for whom safety equipment use was documented, 57 were using both a shoulder and lap belt. Nine individuals, representing 13.4% of this group, were recorded as using no safety equipment. One person used only a lap belt.

Slightly over half of all crashes, 145 incidents or 54.3%, involved a single vehicle. Two-vehicle collisions were also common, accounting for 114 crashes (42.7%). A small number of incidents, 8 crashes, involved three vehicles.