Message Monday - Win a major award! You're fragile, buckle up

December 17, 2018

What would you do to protect something precious? This time of year, many of us are sending and receiving gifts packaged and shipped with care. But just like the leg lamp “major award” in A Christmas Story, unprotected things can be easily damaged.

When you’re in a car, are you always protected? Do you buckle up every trip, no matter where you’re sitting? In Iowa, it’s a law that children must be buckled up in the front or back seat. But as adults, do you buckle up in the back? It’s easy to get a false sense of security riding in the back seat, but in a crash, you could cause a lot of damage to yourself and others when you are thrown around the inside of a vehicle.

Message Monday - Every time a belt clicks - fewer bones need fixed

December 10, 2018

Count to three. That’s the amount of time it takes you to buckle up and reduce your risk of death or serious injury in a car crash. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2.6 million drivers and passengers were treated in emergency departments as the result of being injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2016.

It’s impossible to say how many of these injuries would have been fatal if the person hadn’t been belted, but it’s a proven fact that seatbelts prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected during a crash. The CDC data says people not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash. More than three out of four people who are ejected during a fatal crash die from their injuries.

Message Monday - Slow down. Yule survive the season

December 3, 2018

Now that Thanksgiving is over, preparations for the Holiday Season are kicking into high gear. In this season of “Yule” (an archaic Germanic term and the root of many Christmas traditions) it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of searching for the perfect gifts or planning the best holiday celebration.

When you’re out and about, you’ll likely be reminded that it’s winter in Iowa. Travel can be difficult at times when the weather is less than ideal. Just keep in mind that if you slow down, leave enough space between vehicles, and always buckle up, you’ll be much more likely to survive the trip, no matter what the weather.

Message Monday - Winter is coming! Buckle up. This is not a game.

November 26, 2018

We all have to face the fact that winter is coming and there are dangers associated with it. What’s the easiest thing you can do to increase your chances of surviving a crash? Buckle up.

In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers and passengers who buckle up are 45 percent less likely to die and 50 percent less likely to be moderately injured in a crash.

What’s holding you back? Buckle up every seat, every trip.

Message Monday - Let's talk turkey, 36% of fatalities involve alcohol

November 19, 2018

To keep things friendly and light, what are the two things you typically avoid talking about at family gatherings? Most people would say religion and politics because those topics tend to stir up strong feelings and possible disagreements. But what happens when Uncle Joe is enjoying his time at Thanksgiving with a few drinks, and you’re worried how it may impact his drive home?

Message Monday - Jenny, I've got your number, but I'll wait to text

November 5, 2018

Plain and simple - put your phone away if you’re driving. Whether you’re old school and actually use your phone to call someone or you communicate via text or SnapChat, the conversation can wait.

Because distracted driving due to cell phone use is a relatively new danger on roadways, there isn’t great data to show how devastating the issue really is. But we all know that if we aren’t guilty of using the phone behind the wheel ourselves, we’ve seen any number of other people putting lives in danger by driving distracted.