Archives: July 2022
Roadside Chat - Keep your load off the road. Tie it or tarp it
July 29, 2022
With eyes on the road 24/7/365, what do our Traffic Management Center operators see? Tires, ladders, couches, construction materials, and all kinds of other debris are common sights on Iowa’s roadways. From January through the end of June, operators have logged 806 reports of debris on the road.
This debris doesn’t just make Iowa roads look bad, it can be very dangerous for you and your family. Whether you run over the debris and damage a tire, swerve out of the way to avoid debris, or get hit by items flying out of another vehicle, the potential for disaster is high.
Personnel updates for July 8, 2022 to July 21, 2022
July 28, 2022
Information supplied by the Bureau of Budget and Business Systems
Keeping you safer on Iowa’s roadways – update on joint operating procedure agreement between Iowa DOT and Iowa State Patrol
July 26, 2022
The Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa State Patrol have similar goals to do everything we can to promote safe travel on Iowa’s roadways. In recent years, the two agencies have collaborated on a document to spell out exactly how the agencies work together on traffic incidents on Iowa’s state and U.S. highways and interstates. This Joint Operations Policy Statement sets goals and objectives for collaboration.
Roadside Chat - No scrolling while your vehicle is rolling
July 22, 2022
Smartphones are amazing tools that keep us connected to friends and family, help us find information on the internet, and entertain us with all kinds of games and videos. They are also deadly distractions if you’re using your phone behind the wheel.
The three main causes of distraction all come together for a driver who uses a cell phone.
Keeping you safer when the unexpected happens
July 19, 2022
You're
on the road, just trying to get where you need to go and you see a line of cars slowing down in front of you. You assume there’s a crash up ahead but wonder when the line will get moving again.
When there is a crash or other incident on the road, it puts both those sharing the road and first responders at risk. Two of our Iowa Department of Transportation core values are “Safety First” and “People Matter.” Part of living those core values includes managing roadway incidents in a coordinated way to make sure anyone involved in an incident is cared for in a fast and efficient manner and ensuring the safety of all responders and those travelers on the road near an incident.
New tool evaluates similar intersections for safety
July 18, 2022
Intersections provide the potential for you to be involved in a crash simply because there is often more than one vehicle at a time using that intersection. One wrong move from a driver can cause a crash.
Statewide, there are thousands of intersections of all shapes and sizes. The Iowa Department of Transportation has the daunting task of evaluating these intersections for potential safety improvements and deciding how to spend our limited safety funding in a way that provides the most benefit to you when you’re on the road.
A new way of analyzing information by comparing data from intersections that are similar in the way they are set up is proving to be effective in assisting Iowa DOT staff with identifying the potential for crash reduction. For example, the potential for crashes on low-traffic rural intersections with 55-mile-per-hour speed limits would be compared to each other rather than to all intersections in the state. This updated way of looking at the potential for safety improvements will help keep you safer as you travel around Iowa.
Roadside Chat - Won't you be my neighbor? Be kind at merge
July 15, 2022
When you see a “lane closed ahead” sign, what’s the first thing that goes through your mind? Are you the aggressive type who tries to get to the front of the line before the merge, or the more friendly driver who simply merges into the line as space opens up?
Aggressive driving is never the safest option, especially in a situation where several vehicles are vying for the same lane at the same time. Here are a few tips for safely navigating a work zone.
Personnel updates for June 24, 2022 to July 7, 2022
July 14, 2022
Information supplied by the Bureau of Budget and Business Systems
Roadside Chat - Passing on left moves us in right direction
July 8, 2022
Few driving habits infuriate your fellow drivers more than puttering at or below the speed limit in the left lane of a multi-lane highway. There are certain expectations drivers have related to what other drivers are going to do. Unfortunately, over time we may develop our own set of expectations that are sometimes at odds with those sharing the roads. That’s when the potential for crashes increases. Get back to the basics to improve safety for you and those who share the road with you.
Recent Iowa DOT Awards
July 6, 2022
The Iowa DOT is focused on making lives better through transportation. Whether we are working to put safety first or focusing on our customers, innovation and leadership are at the heart of the work we do. Sometimes that innovation and leadership earns us attention and accolades from our industry partners and peers. We are proud of the business units and individuals across the Iowa DOT who have been recognized for the following awards over the last quarter.