Iowa State Patrol Calls Now “100 Deadliest Days Of Summer”, Illinois Launches Hot Weather Patrols

It's rather toasty.

As much fun as we have during the summers, it's important to remember there are risks too. For example, we're all frying lately:

Ugh: Extreme Heat Watch Issued For Eastern Iowa And Western Illinois

And it's because of that that patrols in both Iowa and Illinois are ramped up. Iowa State Patrol calls the time period we're in the "100 Deadliest Days Of Summer". It's the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

And it gets that term because of the higher amount of teen drivers who are in crashes.

Here's what the states are doing to help curtail accidents this summer.

Iowa

The Iowa State Patrol reminds people to be very careful and pay attention this summer. And also to remember the rules of the road when it comes to ATV's and UTV's.

Trooper Ryan Devault, the public resource officer at the patrol's Council Bluffs location, told KMA News that another issue this time of the year is that it's road construction season and reminds drivers to put down their phones. He said:

You've got a lot more young people out driving, whether it be going to ball practice or they're just out on the weekend or weeknights that typically they wouldn't be because they'd have school the next day, but obviously school is out now. So, between that and family vacations, it just becomes very busy. Our roads are busy as it is, but now you take school not being in session and people moving from point A to point B, the roads get a lot busier.

Stats from the Iowa Department of Transportation shows that, so far, the amount of traffic fatalities this year is down from this time last year. So that's good news.

Illinois

Illinois Tollway has deployed Hot Weather Patrol.

Basically, it's a 24/7 patrol that works to find drivers who are having issues along toll roads to help them quickly in extreme heat.

If you're caught in this situation, dial *999 to get help (literally H.E.L.P. trucks, the Illinois Tollway's Highway Emergency Lane Patrol) from the Hot Weather Patrol. They can bring crew cab trucks to take you somewhere if you have to, and they can help if you run out of gas, get a flat tire, or if your radiator overheats.

The H.E.L.P. trucks (supported by GEICO) run Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The Hot Weather Patrol will be operating 24/7.