Roadside Chat – Leave the flipping to Suni and Simone. Drive safe speeds.
Today marks the opening of the 2024 Olympics in Paris and America’s fascination with the skills of talented athletes such as gymnasts Suni Lee and Simone Biles. While the art of flips and spins can be awe-inspiring on the mat, those same moves can have dire effects when they occur on the road.
One way to avoid crazy flips is to slow down and make sure you are driving at a safe speed. A safe speed doesn’t necessarily mean adhering to the speed limit. Weather, road construction, the position of the sun, people and vehicles alongside the road, and more can all create a need to slow down to ensure you safely get through the area.
Slowing down can not only save a life. It can also save gas and help your overall mental well-being. Driving with a sense of urgency can increase your stress level and tend to create a sense of anger or impatience with others who are sharing the road with you.
In 2024 in Iowa, 162 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of 8 since last Friday. In Iowa in 2023, there were 377 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