Rain-soaked roads and cloudy skies may have contributed to the lowest May traffic fatality total since 1943, according to an Iowa Department of Transportation press release dated July 8.

“People were probably traveling a little less because the weather was inclement,” said Scott Falb, Iowa DOT fatal accident reporting system administrator.

“Adverse weather conditions seem to help focus our attention when we drive,” Darrel Rensink, director of the Iowa DOT, said.

According to a report issued by the Iowa DOT, 25 persons died on Iowa roadways in May. The release also stated that for the first five months of 1996, 139 people have been involved in fatal car accidents. That number is 33 less than for the same period last year.

More than 71 percent of the crashes took place between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to the press release.

When alcohol is added in the mix, the main time frame for fatal accidents to occur is 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., Falb said.

“When people are either changing bars or heading home is when you see many of the fatalities,” Falb said. “You can combine fatigue and drinking.”

Falb said many of the fatal accidents occur on state highways and county roads. He said ditches being close to the road, gravel roads and two-lane roads add to many of the fatal accidents.

“Sometimes people are traveling down a gravel road that they have driven over many times before and don’t expect to see anyone coming over the top of a hill,” Falb said.

The number of younger drivers in fatal accidents does not change much throughout the year, according to the report. More than 39 percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes were under the age of 25.

“Iowans could make this a record year for the low number of traffic fatalities if we can all keep our attention focused on the road,” Rensink said.

The July 4 weekend went by with eight fatalities across the state, Falb said.

“Two of the crashes were from people running stop signs in rural sections of the state,” he said.

Falb said drivers need to be wary of fatigue when driving over long distances. “Take a break every hour and watch other drivers.”