When winter blankets our roads with snow and ice, Iowa DOT snowplows are critical allies in helping restore safe travel conditions. However, your relationship with these snowfighters can be a mix of appreciation and frustration. While you may value their efforts to clear our roads, it’s easy to lose the patience needed for these slow-moving vehicles to complete their work.
Rushing to pass a plow, driving into its operational space, or staying in its blind spots can quickly become a recipe for an orange crush – and not the tasty beverage type.
While Iowa hasn’t experienced a heavy snow or ice storm with broad impacts this season like some of our neighboring states and those farther south, yet – several smaller winter weather events in recent weeks have called upon our Department of Transportation (DOT) snowplow operators to prep and maintain roadways.
Despite lower accumulations, these events still create challenges between vehicles and snowplows that share the roads. “Since our winter started on October 15, we’ve had a total of nine DOT snowplow strikes from vehicles and several other close calls,” according to Craig Bargfrede, winter operations administrator.
“It’s just a few drinks…I’m ok to drive.” How many times have you heard that from family members or friends? When it comes to drinking and driving, staying safe is about something deeper than confidence in your ability to drive under the influence. It’s about making responsible choices – and that starts with being sober and clear-headed behind the wheel.
It’s often said that creating genuine, positive change happens from the inside out. When a determined core group of Iowa Department of Transportation employees set out seven years ago to lead meaningful change in the way women connected with transportation careers through Iowa’s WTS International Chapter, the effort launched a deep-rooted transformation.
Formerly known as Women Transportation Seminar, WTS is an organization with the purpose of advancing women in transportation. DOT leadership was instrumental in helping to establish the Iowa Chapter, and its participation in WTS is part of a deeper focus on enhancing a learning and development culture.
The DOT’s commitment to advancing women in transportation came full circle as the Iowa Chapter of WTS recognized us as the Employer of the Year at its Annual Gala held on Friday, January 10, at the Des Moines Botanical Garden. The Chapter also awarded District 3 Engineer, Jessica Felix, with WTS Woman of the Year honors.
Every parent dreams of seeing their children grow up safe and healthy. And parents have an enormous ability to educate them on avoiding danger by teaching skills like looking both ways before crossing the street and buckling up in every seat. But a critical safety seed that’s often not planted is burying the cell phone while driving. Done early, it can sprout a family expectation of a mindset to help grow our kids into safe adult drivers.
On the birthday of Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien, we recall one of his most famous lines. His monster Gollum said of the Ring, “It is mine, I tell you. My own. My precious,” and his protection of it extended his life far beyond usual limits. In the natural world, protecting our most precious – family and friends whose lives we treasure – can be accomplished with the simple act of ensuring that everyone in our vehicle wears a seatbelt.