TRANSPORTATION MATTERS for IOWA

Message Monday - You don't know what you got till it's gone


8-27 message mondayEvery week there is a safety message and a number that shows all the people who have been killed on Iowa’s roads so far this year. If one of those people is a loved one or friend, today’s message probably stirs up some emotions. We dearly miss those who have been taken from us.

A few naysayers have commented to us that they think these messages are insensitive to family and friends of people killed in crashes. Those comments often come from people who have not lost loved ones in a car crash. We have found that even though some of the messages stir up sadness, families who have suffered loss want to spare others from going through the same pain by spreading messages of safety behind the wheel.

To spare your friends and family from the pain of losing you in a crash, there are five simple things you can do to greatly increase your chances of making it home safely today:

  1. Buckle up
  2. Drive sober
  3. Focus on the road
  4. Stay alert
  5. Slow down

Whether your musical tastes trend toward Joni Mitchell (https://youtu.be/94bdMSCdw20) or Cinderella –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i28UEoLXVFQ or somewhere in between, You really don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.

For 2018, there have been 197 fatalities reported. That’s an increase of six since last Monday. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf

Thanks so much for your comment. We'll start working on a standing water message. Great suggestion!

I love your messages. I lost my sister when she drove into standing water. Could you put something creative out about that. Too many people think it won't happen to them.

This is Very Nice and Knowledgeable Article. Thanks for Shearing

Happy Diwali 2018

Kristin - thanks so much for your comment!

I lost both grandmothers and my husband lost two cousins to car crashes. I do not find these messages to be insensitive at all and appreciate the safety reminders as we drive through our busy lives.

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