Transportation Matters for Iowa

Roadside Chat - Phil can't predict brake lights. Give others space.

February 3, 2023

Can a rodent really predict anything? Yesterday Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. The quaint tradition in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, first appeared in the local newspaper in 1886. While Phil has a 50/50 chance of being correct in his predictions about winter, we all know his shadow has nothing to do with the weather.

Other things Phil (or anyone else, for that matter) can’t predict include the behavior of other drivers on the road. Following too close to another vehicle, especially if there is snow or ice on the road, can be extremely dangerous.

February 2023 Service awards

February 1, 2023

Information provided by the Business Systems Bureau

Roadside Chat - Fly under the radar by obeying the speed limit

January 27, 2023

Sometimes it’s great to be noticed. Getting recognition when you’ve done something well is awesome. Getting noticed for breaking the law is the kind of attention most of us avoid by abiding by safety rules and good driving habits.

During the pandemic, law enforcement officers from around the country saw a significant increase in speeding violations in excess of 100 mph. Unfortunately, we’re still seeing an alarming number of people significantly exceeding the speed limit. To help keep you safe, law enforcement has been working to stop these dangerous speeders.

Personnel updates - Jan. 6-19, 2023

January 26, 2023

Information supplied by the Business Systems Bureau

Plow cam images provide more than just a glimpse at winter weather

January 24, 2023

You know when you have this idea that you think is pretty good, but you have no concept of how it might explode into something much more than you expected over time? That’s what happened with the snow plow camera images the Iowa Department of Transportation began using eight years ago.

Roadside Chat - Old McDonald clicked his belt E-I-E-I-O

January 20, 2023

While more than 92 percent of front-seat drivers and passengers in Iowa wear seat belts, it might surprise you to learn that nearly half of those killed on Iowa roadways were not buckled up. In 2022, 114 of our loved ones were not wearing seat belts when they were killed in a crash.

Buckling up is so easy. But unfortunately, there are a number of reasons adults give for not wearing seat belts themselves. Luckily, when it comes to our kids, one of the first things most of us buy as new parents is a child safety seat.

As child safety seats have become more advanced, some of them are also a bit complicated to install and use correctly. According to an article on https://www.parents.com/, there are nine common mistakes parents make.

Nothing teaches like a shared experience - 2023 Maintenance Conference highlights

January 17, 2023

We can learn a lot from each other but connecting can be tough to do when one person works out of Rock Rapids and another from Davenport. Each year the Maintenance Bureau tries to bridge the geographic gap by bringing hundreds of Iowa DOTers together in one spot to get updated information and spend time together sharing experiences.

Roadside Chat : Please give snowplow drivers room to groom

January 13, 2023

This has been quite a winter already. With a pre-Christmas blizzard, a bit of ice, a lot of slush, and snowplow crews working endlessly to get the roads back into shape to make your travel safer.

You have places to go, we get that, but there are things you can do to make sure that you, your passengers, and those you share the road with arrive safely. Here are some key things to remember if you see a snowplow on your travels.

Personnel updates for December 23, 2022 to January 5, 2023

January 12, 2023