Message Monday - Don't drop the ball - Plan a sober ride

December 31, 2018

It’s 11:59 p.m. tonight – the party is in full swing and you’re having a blast watching the ball drop in Times Square and singing Auld Lang Syne.  10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1 – and it’s 2019! But once the party’s over, do you know how you are getting home?

If you are planning to ring in the new year with alcohol or any other substance that might impact your ability to drive, make sure you don’t drop the ball. Plan ahead for a sober ride. Think about how you’re going to get home well in advance of the New Year’s Eve festivities. Waiting until you’ve already had a little holiday cheer can lead to the really bad decision to get behind the wheel.

Personnel updates - Nov. 30 - Dec. 13, 2018

December 31, 2018

Information provided by the Office of Employee Services

New year means new schedule for safety training

December 28, 2018

There is nothing more important than keeping you safe while you do your job. You and your loved ones count on the fact that you will return home in the same condition as you left. However, safety requires the commitment and on-going attention of everyone. Part of that commitment includes safety training that is provided by the Office of Employee Services.

Traditionally, safety topics were chosen for employees who needed a particular training, with the requirement to complete that training within that month.  Tim Carey, health and safety team leader from the Office of Employee Services, said, “While that worked out for some, scheduling conflicts make it difficult for others to get each monthly training done in a timely way.”

Message Monday - Blitzen? Call Rudolph, he knows a guy

December 24, 2018

Are you one of those people who always “knows a guy” who can take care of just about any issue? When someone you know has been drinking and wants to get behind the wheel, be that guy, or gal, and arrange for a person, taxi company, or a ridesharing app that can help.

Be that friend who can take away the keys and make sure you’re celebrating the holidays, rather than worrying at the hospital or grieving at a funeral home.

Rudolph did a huge favor for his “guy” - https://youtu.be/V87fsP5B05k

For 2018, there have been 303 fatalities reported. That’s an increase of five 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

Message Monday - Win a major award! You're fragile, buckle up

December 17, 2018

What would you do to protect something precious? This time of year, many of us are sending and receiving gifts packaged and shipped with care. But just like the leg lamp “major award” in A Christmas Story, unprotected things can be easily damaged.

When you’re in a car, are you always protected? Do you buckle up every trip, no matter where you’re sitting? In Iowa, it’s a law that children must be buckled up in the front or back seat. But as adults, do you buckle up in the back? It’s easy to get a false sense of security riding in the back seat, but in a crash, you could cause a lot of damage to yourself and others when you are thrown around the inside of a vehicle.

Personnel updates Nov. 16 – 29, 2018

December 10, 2018

Information provided by the Office of Employee Services

Message Monday - Every time a belt clicks - fewer bones need fixed

December 10, 2018

Count to three. That’s the amount of time it takes you to buckle up and reduce your risk of death or serious injury in a car crash. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2.6 million drivers and passengers were treated in emergency departments as the result of being injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2016.

It’s impossible to say how many of these injuries would have been fatal if the person hadn’t been belted, but it’s a proven fact that seatbelts prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected during a crash. The CDC data says people not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash. More than three out of four people who are ejected during a fatal crash die from their injuries.

December 2018 Service Awards

December 4, 2018

Information provided by the Office of Employee Services

Bridge collaboration solidifies relationships and fosters new ideas

December 3, 2018

How do you get from Iowa to Nebraska? Well since there’s a river in between, we venture a guess that a bridge will be involved.

At one time not all that long ago, there was no national system of highways. Just because a road ran to the border of another state, there was no guarantee that the road would continue past the border. In addition, bridges, especially those crossing major rivers, were few and far between.

Luckily, transportation professionals quickly realized that the need for people and goods to move doesn’t end at a state’s border. Over the years collaboration and cooperation between states has continued to grow. Much of the work done at departments of transportation around the country has become standardized, helping travelers know what to expect and have a relatively consistent experience no matter what state they are traveling in. That’s not to say each state doesn’t have a few innovations up their sleeves.

Message Monday - Slow down. Yule survive the season

December 3, 2018

Now that Thanksgiving is over, preparations for the Holiday Season are kicking into high gear. In this season of “Yule” (an archaic Germanic term and the root of many Christmas traditions) it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of searching for the perfect gifts or planning the best holiday celebration.

When you’re out and about, you’ll likely be reminded that it’s winter in Iowa. Travel can be difficult at times when the weather is less than ideal. Just keep in mind that if you slow down, leave enough space between vehicles, and always buckle up, you’ll be much more likely to survive the trip, no matter what the weather.