Archives: November 2022
Roadside Chat - Relax, don't do it, when you really want to floor it
November 25, 2022
The holiday season can bring on a whole new level of stress. The joy of the season can sometimes be overcome by the pressure. If you’re rushing around to complete your holiday “to-do” list, don’t try to save time by driving aggressively.
Don’t think you’re an aggressive driver?
Roadside Chat - Flashing lights? Do what's right. Move over
November 18, 2022
To keep everyone safer on the road, every state across the country has enacted some form of a “Move Over” law to encourage motorists to either slow down or move over when they come up on a crash scene. National data shows that nearly 30 percent of people are unaware that these laws exist.
As we finish out Crash Responder Safety Week, here’s a reminder about Iowa’s “Move over” law. The law (Iowa Code 321.323) was enacted in 2002 to help protect responders and motorists. It was expanded in 2018 to include not only emergency vehicles but any vehicle alongside the road with flashing lights.
Personnel updates for October 28, 2022 to November 10, 2022
November 17, 2022
Information supplied by the Business Systems Bureau
Roadside Chat - Vets protected you. Protect others by driving sober
November 11, 2022
Every Nov. 11 we take a step back to honor those who have served our country. Celebrations of Veterans Day often include ceremonies thanking those brave individuals who leave their homes and families to protect our freedom.
While veterans have protected us from threats we may not always see, threats here at home are often much easier to combat. Drunk driving is one. If you’re going to be drinking, here are some basic tips to protect yourself and everyone else on the road.
New research searches for ways to “see” through bad weather
November 9, 2022
We can’t say it enough – safety is at the core of everything we do at the Iowa DOT. But the nature of being on the road in all kinds of conditions puts some of our team members in danger, such as snow fighters working in weather that can make it tough to see out of the windshield. We must find ways to make those situations as safe as possible.
To help accomplish one of our five-year priority goals to grow innovation, we are working with Iowa State University’s Institute for Transportation to develop equipment that allows our folks to “see” better in bad weather. This includes equipping snow plows with sensors and driver aids to allow our staff to continue working in low visibility situations that improves the safety of both those traveling on the roads and our staff.
Playing “I Spy the orange pickup” is getting easier on Iowa’s roads
November 7, 2022
“I-spy” is an activity many of us remember playing while in the car. This game and others like it not only helped us pass the time but also helped us focus on what was on the road around us. For some, these games, and just a general awareness of what is happening outside the vehicle, have been replaced by focusing on our hand-held devices. This focus inside rather than outside of the vehicle can cause safety issues for you as well as the maintenance vehicles working alongside the road.
We’ve worked for years to increase the visibility of our work zones and larger trucks. But many Iowa Department of Transportation employees are also out on the road in small vehicles like pick-up trucks. Our field forces often need to pull these pick-ups to the side of the road to perform tasks. Making them as visible as possible to passing motorists who may not be paying as much attention as they should is the focus of a recent project for our Maintenance Task Force.
Personnel updates for October 14, 2022 to October 27, 2022
November 4, 2022
Information supplied by the Bureau of Budget and Business Systems
Roadside Chat - Buck the trend. Eyes up, phone down
November 4, 2022
You see it everywhere, maybe even inside your own vehicle. Drivers are paying less and less attention to the road and more attention to their phones. As a driver, keeping your eyes on the road is always the safest option, but it’s even more important this time of year when deer are on the move.
November 2022 Service awards
November 1, 2022
Information provided by the Budget and Business Systems Bureau