The Fourth of July weekend is often associated with an increase in traffic fatalities and fireworks-related injuries. While such accidents are not a major threat in Ames, Iowa’s law enforcement officials will be out in force to ensure that your holiday is a safe one.

“For most towns it’s one of the biggest weekends, but in Ames it’s not,” Ames Police Chief Dennis Ballantine said. “We usually don’t have too many problems except for the small traffic problems around where the parties and fireworks are at.”

The scenario is different for the Iowa State Patrol.

“There’s definitely an increase [of traffic fatalities] over any holiday of the year, but especially the Fourth of July,” said Sgt. Shane Antle of the Iowa State Patrol. “It carries a high proportional amount of alcohol-related accidents.”

Because of these numbers, the Iowa State Patrol has said in a prepared statement that officers will focus enforcement efforts on drunk or drugged drivers, lack of seat belt and child restraint use, and other dangerous moving violations in what is being called Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort).

CARE is a nationwide combined effort where the Iowa State Patrol will work with other state police organizations.

Antle said special emphasis will be placed on Iowa’s primary roads due to the disproportionately high accident rate on them.

In overall highway fatalities, New Year’s and Thanksgiving rank second and third, respectively. New Year’s and Memorial Day are second and third for alcohol-related fatalities.

Antle said the State Patrol does not see as much long-distance travel over the Independence Day weekend as it does during other holidays, but nonetheless, highway traffic increases.

“This particular holiday falls right in the middle of construction season,” he said. “The main advice we want to give is patience.”

Lt. Gary Foster of the Story County Sheriff’s Office said that people should plan their trips around the construction sites.

“It has the potential to be a very deadly holiday if people don’t use caution,” he said.

Fireworks are a popular item for the Independence Day weekend. It is legal to possess them, but it is a misdemeanor to use them or sell them.

Each year, the Jaycees put on a fireworks show for Ames. Ames Jaycees President John Oetken said, “First of all you risk a fine, but safety-wise it’s very dangerous. Everyone in the Jaycee events goes to school for this. I wouldn’t recommend anyone to do home fireworks shows.”

“It’s typically younger kids that are out shooting fireworks.” Foster said.

Antle said his concern is that the law enforcement officials are being called in only after the explosives are shot off.

Ballantine said his department usually pursues fireworks infractions only if they are dangerous, such as “throwing them out of cars and throwing them at people.”