TRANSPORTATION MATTERS for IOWA

Roadside Chat - Gambling with safety means betting your life


2-9 gamblingsOdds are you sometimes take risks when you’re behind the wheel. Some of the risky behaviors, like reading a quick text, going just a little over the speed limit, or not buckling up in the back seat, are so common you may not consider them to be dangerous.

While you may not have been in a crash yet, decades of research related to traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths, indicate that these behaviors are risky. Combining these behaviors, like speeding and texting at the same time, greatly increases the risk.

Luckily, there is strong data that shows you can do much more to be safer behind the wheel. Here are four simple things you can do behind the wheel that would help curb traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths.

  1. Drive sober
  2. Buckle up – every seat, every time
  3. Reduce distractions and pay attention
  4. Slow down

The idea for this message came from Grant O. from Ames. If you would like to submit a message idea, go to https://whatdrivesyouiowa.org/roadsidechat.aspx. You can type your message in and see how it would look on a sign. By hitting the “submit” button, your idea comes directly to the database we use to develop new messages.

So far in 2024 in Iowa, 22 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of three since last Friday. In Iowa in 2023, there were 376 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf

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