What started as a short trip to Iowa Falls to bid a co-worker goodbye on his retirement turned into something completely different on Nov. 30 for Chris Glenn and Jerid Ratzke from the Williams garage.
The pair were traveling on U.S. 20 when they noticed something strange off in the distance. Ratzke said, “At first I thought it might be a twisted billboard, but then we got closer and noticed that it was the trailer from a semi.”
Because it was so unusual to see a trailer off the road and into a wooded area, Ratzke and Glenn decided to investigate. Ratzke said, “It was still dark, so we couldn’t see it very well from the road. When we got closer, we saw there were mangled pieces of the tractor and trailer hanging from a tree. The cab was still attached to the trailer, but it was rolled on its side.”
The rash of January snowstorms put a real strain on our resources but many don’t realize the things our snow fighters do to make sure you can safely get to where you need to go. During this most recent storm, we had several garage staff who worked 12- to 16-hour shifts for 16 days straight. In some areas, there are no hotels close enough to ensure that our snow fighters can safely and easily get back to the shop for their next shift. It’s not uncommon for these dedicated men and women to sleep in sleeping bags on cots in the garages, unable to get back home for days at a time for a home-cooked meal or to sleep in their own bed. But as is always the case, our crews stepped up and did what needed to be done. There are dozens of stories out there that may never be told outside of the garage, but here are just a few stories that have been shared of DOTers who went above and beyond the call of duty.
It’s National Passenger Safety Week. If you choose not to wear a seat belt, what’s your excuse? Decades of research show that seat belts save lives. We’ve all heard rumors of someone who was in a crash and was injured “because” of a seat belt. The truth is, data on seat belt use shows that you’re at far greater risk of injury or death if you’re not wearing a seat belt in a crash.
Hopefully, if you’re one of the millions of Americans who set New Year’s resolutions, your willpower is standing strong just a few weeks into the new year. But according to discoverappyhabits.com, of the 41 percent of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions, by the end of the year, only 9 percent of them are successful in keeping them.
Research shows that resolutions fail for a number of reasons.
With the winter turning colder and snowier, you may find yourself on a slick road. If you end up off in the ditch or shoulder and you’re not able to get your vehicle back on the road safely, the best thing to do is stay inside the vehicle. Use your cell phone if you have one to call 911 for assistance or wait for someone to stop to help you.
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 work earns us attention and accolades from our industry partners and peers. We are proud of those across our DOT team who have been recognized for the following awards.
Newton’s First Law of Motion states that a body at rest will remain at rest, and a body in motion will remain in motion unless it is acted upon by an external force. The body we’re talking about is yours when you’re in a vehicle. The external force is your seat belt.
Even in the worst winter storms, some travelers may not be able to stay put and wait for the weather to improve. Because safety is at the core of everything we do at the Iowa Department of Transportation, our advice will always be to sit tight if the conditions are bad enough that it is dangerous for you to be driving. But if you must travel, we’ll be there for you, using the latest technology to safely clear the roads.