Transportation Matters for Iowa

Roadside Chat - Crush the candy another time. Eyes on the road.

April 28, 2023

Playing games on your phone can be a good way to relieve stress and pass the time. Playing games, or doing anything else on your phone, while you are driving can be deadly.

There are three main types of distractions behind the wheel.

Getting a fresh start with a new ID or driver’s license

April 24, 2023

It’s just a plastic card, but for those who don’t have a state-issued driver’s license or an ID card, many doors may be closed. One of the things our customers need most is official identification. Opening a bank account, renting an apartment, visiting a doctor or hospital, picking up necessary medications from a pharmacy, or applying for a job all require you to prove you are who you say you are using a state-issued ID or driver’s license.

Many people don’t think about how not having a state-issued identification card or driver’s license can create significant hurdles in navigating everyday society for someone who has been released from prison. For several years the Iowa Department of Transportation has been working with the Iowa Department of Corrections to help people who are incarcerated obtain a copy of their driving record and a list of steps each person needs to clear up any issues. Once released, the individual would take that list to one of the DMV locations to try and sort out the issues.

Roadside Chat - That's not why it's called a "high" way. Drive sober

April 21, 2023

What do you think of when you hear the term “impaired driving?” For many of us, the first thing that comes to mind is drinking and then getting behind the wheel. But with more than 20 states around the country now legalizing recreational marijuana, driving high now frequently enters into the impaired driving discussion.

Personnel updates for March 31 to April 13, 2023

April 20, 2023

Information supplied by the Business Systems Bureau

HIGH-FLYING SAFETY INITIATIVE AIMS TO GET TRAFFIC MOVING MORE QUICKLY AFTER AN INCIDENT

April 20, 2023

When something unexpected like a traffic crash happens, getting first responders to the scene to treat you if you’re injured is the first priority. While this is happening, law enforcement and other first responders, including the Iowa Department of Transportation, are completing investigations and doing whatever they can to get the road cleared so traffic can get moving normally again.

Roadside Chat - Organ donors & seat belts both save lives

April 14, 2023

One simple click of your seat belt can save your life in a crash. Another simple thing you can do to save lives is mark “yes” on the organ and tissue donation question when you renew your driver’s license.

At the Iowa Department of Transportation, we work closely with the Iowa Donor Network to encourage organ and tissue donation. When you answer “yes” to the question about organ and tissue donation, our systems take it from there, communicating your willingness to be a donor to the Iowa Donor Network system.

Helping motorists navigate safer routes in an emergency

April 11, 2023

Whenever there is a crash, tensions can run high for everyone involved. With “Safety First” and “People Matter” as two of our core values, doing whatever we can to relieve some of that tension is a high priority.

No one likes to sit in traffic waiting for lanes to be cleared after a crash. Not only is it annoying, but it can also be very dangerous. Jim Armstrong, an engineer in our Systems Operations Division quotes a national statistic that for every minute a lane is closed and traffic backs up, the risk of a second crash in the same area goes up 2.8 percent.

Roadside Chat - What drives you to drive sober?

April 7, 2023

It’s just a few beers after work or a night out with friends. No big deal, right? What impact would it have on your friends and family if you didn’t make it back home?

Even a little bit of alcohol can impact your reaction time. This chart from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows how just a little alcohol can impact your driving.