Personnel Updates for Nov. 4 - 17, 2016

November 29, 2016

Information provided by the Office of Employee Services

Message Monday - Like my seat belt? It's a beaut Clark

November 28, 2016

It’s just a strip of polyester webbed fabric with a metal buckle, but properly wearing one can reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half. Seat belts may not be considered attractive or sexy, but they are the best tool you have to protect yourself from serious injury or death in a crash.

This holiday season, motor vehicle travel is expected to be high. Protect yourself by buckling up – every seat, every time. It may be a little awkward to ask your back seat passengers to buckle up, but unbuckled passengers, no matter where they are sitting pose a danger to everyone in the vehicle in the event of a crash.

Get this kind of reception from your friends and family when you arrive safely this holiday season - https://youtu.be/KBeSuavHxVc?t=40s

The fatality count of 338 is an increase of seven from last Monday. In all of 2015, 320 people were killed on Iowa highways. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to daily fatality count.

Improving accountability in the construction process with eTicketing for concrete loads

November 21, 2016

For Iowa Department of Transportation inspectors, tablet computers are quickly becoming the most essential tool on a construction project. In 2015,  inspectors began the transition to a 100 percent paperless construction management  to increase project efficiency. In addition to being a smarter way to do business, a paperless process will provide improved transparency and increased partnership with our customers, eventually modernizing the workflows, saving time, and receiving better data to help the Iowa DOT save money. 

Message Monday - Turkeys say "buckle buckle"

November 21, 2016

Headed over the meadow and through the woods for Thanksgiving? Make sure everyone arrives safely by buckling up, every seat, every time. Need more convincing?

Consider these facts:

 1. Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to save your life in a crash

2. In a crash, an unbuckled passenger can become a projectile and increase the risk of hurting or killing others in the car by 40 percent.

3. Someone not wearing a seat belt is 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash.

4. Three out of four people ejected during a crash, die from their injuries.

If you listen really closely… they are saying “buckle, buckle!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR46UW9HPXo

The fatality count of 350 is an increase of 12 from last Monday. In all of 2015, 320 people were killed on Iowa highways. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to daily fatality count.

Brine – it’s just salt and water

November 18, 2016

The simple combination of salt and water in precise concentrations is the magic potion that helps keep roads safer when snow and ice are on the way. 

Anti-icing

This time of year it isn’t unusual on a sunny day to see Iowa Department of Transportation snowplows out on the roads spreading brine. While it may seem counter-intuitive, the work they are doing is really important in keeping you safe and moving on the roads. They are working proactively, putting down a layer of brine on the road to prevent ice crystals from forming when the temperatures dip below the freezing point.

Another Iowa DOT process goes electronic - salvage title inspections

November 17, 2016

The Iowa Department of Transportation has put a focus on automation and data collection to streamline and improve processes within the department. Most recently, the system used to track salvage vehicle inspections was moved from paper to electronic as part of this focus.

For many people, purchasing a vehicle that has been rebuilt after a significant crash is a cost-effective way to get a nicer car. However, sometimes vehicles can be rebuilt in ways that aren’t legal. As mandated by Iowa Code, the Iowa DOT’s Bureau of Investigations & Identity Protection, works to protect customers by physically inspecting rebuilt vehicles to make sure no stolen parts have been used as. To help get the job done, Iowa DOT investigators enlist the assistance of many partner law enforcement agencies around the state.

This isn’t our first roadeo - Iowa DOT tests snow equipment and plow routes

November 17, 2016

Every year about this time in Iowa Department of Transportation garages around the state, snowplows, brine tanks and salt spreaders are being pulled out of storage in preparation for the winter driving season.

This year, in addition to the traditional preparation, the Iowa DOT conducted its first-ever statewide test of snowplow trucks and the global positioning system/automatic vehicle locations system they use. This GPS/AVL system feeds data to Iowa DOT supervisors, the National Weather Service, and the public through a variety of services.

Message Monday - Doe, a deer, a female deer - rut time is here

November 14, 2016

Humming a show tune is just one of hundreds of things you could be doing to distract you while you’re driving. Its good advice any time of year, but especially now with so many deer on the move, putting your full attention towards the task of driving could save your life.  

In Iowa from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, there have been 4,319 reported motor vehicle crashes with animals. In these crashes, 183 people have been injured and three have died.

Personnel Updates for Oct. 21-Nov. 3, 2016

November 10, 2016

Information provided by the Office of Employee Services

Finding someone to share a ride just got much easier

November 8, 2016

You might be surprised to find out the leading excuse people use to not share rides. They say they don’t know how to get connected. That could be changing with a new website geared to connect Iowans with car pools and van pools. IowaRideshare.org uses technology to connect people coming and going to the same location. Bicycle, walking and transit buddies can also be matched using the secure website. This site is a service provided by the Iowa Department of Transportation and funded as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative.