Archives: February 2023
New research aims to increase safety for those in and around snowplows
February 27, 2023
Our mission is to make lives better through transportation, which includes looking for ways to make you safer when traveling on wintry Iowa roads, especially when you come up on one of our massive snowplow trucks.
Light it up – testing new lighting for our snowplow trucks
You would think that our very large orange trucks would be difficult to miss, but we still have dozens of them hit from behind every year. In a crash like that, it’s generally the motorist who suffers the most serious consequences. To help you better see our trucks in winter weather, we’re researching new ideas to improve the lighting that is visible when coming up behind one of our trucks.
Roadside Chat - What drives you to get home safely?
February 24, 2023
There is something waiting at the end of every trip. Whether that’s connecting with family, friends, or pets; attending an event; or just the chance to be alone and unwind, we all have something that drives us to get home safely.
You may have noticed ads on TV or radio or graphics popping up online or in your social media feeds asking “What Drives You”. The Iowa DOT, with the support of our other safety partners, started this traffic safety campaign back in December to replace the Zero Fatalities public education campaign that had been in place for several years.
Last year we held focus groups around Iowa to get a feel for what messages might make you think twice about unsafe driving. The new campaign is based on your responses and on research that shows that messaging focusing on loved ones resonates more with Iowans and may have a greater impact on changing unsafe driving behaviors.
Personnel updates for February 3 to February 16, 2023
February 23, 2023
Information supplied by the Business Systems Bureau
Roadside Chat - Drinking & driving go together like a fork & soup
February 17, 2023
Macaroni and cheese. Peanut butter and jelly. Hot cocoa and marshmallows. These combinations just work together and for many of us, they make us feel better.
Other combinations are downright dangerous, like drinking and driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 32 people die each day on U.S. highways because an impaired driver chose to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. That’s one person every 45 minutes of every day.
Personnel updates for January 20 to February 2, 2023
February 10, 2023
Information supplied by the Business Systems Bureau
Roadside Chat - Wear a super belt to score a super weekend
February 10, 2023
There are a lot of “super” things happening this weekend. If you’re going to be on the road traveling to celebrate the big game or any other event, make sure you and all your passengers are buckled up.
Here are a few things for adults to consider from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Roadside Chat - Phil can't predict brake lights. Give others space.
February 3, 2023
Can a rodent really predict anything? Yesterday Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. The quaint tradition in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, first appeared in the local newspaper in 1886. While Phil has a 50/50 chance of being correct in his predictions about winter, we all know his shadow has nothing to do with the weather.
Other things Phil (or anyone else, for that matter) can’t predict include the behavior of other drivers on the road. Following too close to another vehicle, especially if there is snow or ice on the road, can be extremely dangerous.