Archives: September 2023
Balancing improving the roads you use and the environment
September 29, 2023
Road and bridge construction projects, like most aspects of life, are a balancing act. On one hand, repairing, replacing, and building roads and bridges are essential to keeping life moving. On the other, we want to minimize impacts to our natural resources.
That balancing act can sometimes result in a revitalized wetland area for wildlife viewing, hunting, and other outdoor activities.
Roadside Chat - Seat belts, keeping it together since 1959
September 29, 2023
If you’ve ever felt the tug of a seat belt in a crash or sudden stop, you may owe your life to a Swedish engineer. In 1959, Nils Bohlin invented the three-point seat belt that is still in use today and has saved more than a million lives.
The continuous belt that Bohlin invented for automaker Volvo had one section running diagonally across the body and another section across the lap. This design revolutionized automobile safety. Volvo realized the value of this innovation, but also the impact it could have, so it allowed the technology to transfer to other automakers for free.
Personnel updates for Sept. 1 to Sept. 14, 2023
September 22, 2023
Information supplied by the Business Systems Bureau
Roadside Chat - Stop track tragedies. Watch for trains
September 22, 2023
Stop Track Tragedies. That’s the theme of this year’s Rail Safety Week.
A group known as Operation Lifesaver International (https://oli.org/about-us/public-awareness-campaigns/rail-safety-week) works to prevent collisions, injuries, and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings.
Roadside Chat - The corn is high, drivers shouldn't be
September 15, 2023
Driving is a complex task that requires your full attention to stay safe and alert. While some contend that smoking pot and then getting behind the wheel is safe, research would suggest otherwise.
Just about everyone agrees that more research is needed, but the Centers for Disease Control website notes that marijuana affects areas of the brain that control your body’s movements, balance, coordination, memory, and judgment. Marijuana use can impair important skills required for safe driving by:
Personnel updates for Aug. 18 to Aug. 31, 2023
September 8, 2023
Information supplied by the Business Systems Bureau
Roadside Chat - Tailgate at the big game not on the road
September 8, 2023
This week ushers in the 2023 season of the National Football League, and marks another installment of the intrastate rivalry Cy-Hawk series. Tailgating at your favorite gridiron contest can be a fun time to connect with friends and support your team.
Tailgating takes on a new meaning if you’re in traffic. Whether you are following too closely or driving aggressively the consequences of tailgating aren’t as fun on the roadway.
Social media at work? You bet!
September 6, 2023
Where do you get your work-related information? For many of us, the answer is our supervisor, co-workers, or other employees. These are great resources, but you also have a number of options at your fingertips to get useful, work-related information on digital platforms.
Over the last two decades, digital sources have evolved into the main way Americans get their news. In their “News Platform Fact Sheet,” Pew Research reports that A large majority of U.S. adults (82%) say they often or sometimes get news from a smartphone, computer, or tablet, including 49% who say they do so often.
At the Iowa DOT, we’ve been using social media platforms to share information for many years. Some of you may still be hesitant to use these resources on work time, but it’s time to put those hesitations aside and jump into the digital world at your fingertips.
Leading on a national level benefits Iowans
September 5, 2023
We are constantly striving to make your life and the lives of others in the state better through transportation. But we don’t live in a bubble. Sometimes, it makes sense to look beyond Iowa to the best practices of other states and share our own experiences in order to do our best work to serve you.
One of the ways our Motor Vehicle Division team connects with those who perform similar tasks in other jurisdictions is through the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.