Spencer, IA (KICD)– It really is no secret that 2023 was not a good year on Iowa roads with 378 people losing their lives and now law enforcement is asking for help in keeping numbers lower in 2024.

Iowa State Patrol Trooper Kevin Krull tells KICD News despite the number of fatal incidents being at least a five-year high at the state level, locally we moved numbers in a positive direction.

That positive trend we saw in Northwest Iowa to end last year appears to be trying to carry over to 2024 statewide based solely off of one month of data.

Trooper Krull a lot of the awareness to safe driving comes down to reducing impairment especially at times of big celebrations like the finale to the National Football League season.

Law enforecement agencies across the area will be picking up enforcement this weekend looking for those driving while under the influence. To put some numbers into perspective, the cost of a DUI runs pretty close to the average price of a ticket to the big game which is currently around 12 thousand dollars.