Iowa DOT & Iowa Roads

When winter blankets our roads with snow and ice, Iowa DOT snowplows are critical in helping restore safe travel conditions.

Rushing to pass a plow, driving into its operational space, or staying in its blind spots can quickly become a recipe for an accident. To perform their work properly, snowplows typically travel 5 to 35 mph. Despite their signature combination of amber, white, and blue lights, they are often hit from behind by drivers who approach them too fast and are unable to get stopped in time. This winter season alone, a total of nine DOT snowplows have been hit by vehicles.

So far in 2025 in Iowa, 11 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of four since last Friday. In Iowa in 2024, there were 352 traffic-related deaths. For more information go to: https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf