Message Monday - Teen driver and 2 passengers doubles crash risks

October 22, 2018

Do you remember the freedom you felt the first time you got behind the wheel of a car with no adult supervision? For many teens, turning 16, grabbing the car keys and picking up a few friends to cruise around town is a rite of passage, but one that can be deadly.

While Iowa kids can get a permit to drive with an adult at age 14 and a minor school license at 14 ½, many kids still lack adequate experience behind the wheel to know how to handle many situations once they start driving on their own at age 16. Throwing in the distractions of a couple of passengers on top of that inexperience is a recipe for disaster.

Message Monday - I'm the boss. My car won't move till we're buckled

October 15, 2018

Who is the boss of your vehicle? When you’re driving, you are.

Every good boss wants the best for the people under his/her control. When you’re the boss in your vehicle, you should want the best for your passengers, even if your good intentions aren’t well received.

Iowans do a pretty good job of buckling up in the front seat with about 92 percent compliance. It’s the folks in the back that may not realize the importance of buckling up. While seat belt use is mandatory in the back seat for anyone under age 18, adults don’t often understand why the backseat buckle is so important.

Message Monday - Don't cell your life short

October 8, 2018

Whether it’s a feeling of obligation to answer texts immediately or a fear of missing out on the greatest new cat video on Facebook, just one trip on any road in Iowa will tell you people are using cell phones consistently behind the wheel, even when it’s against the law to do so.

Every day in the United States, nine people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured in motor vehicle crashes linked to distracted driving, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

So how do we change behavior to make distracted driving unacceptable?

Message Monday - Buckle in backseat required under 18, smart for all

September 24, 2018

It’s Child Passenger Safety Week. This is a great time to take a minute to make sure your kids are riding in a seat best for their height, weight, and age.

Most parents are great at making sure the little ones are as safe as possible in the back seat. But what about older kids or adult passengers back there?

Message Monday - If you bought it, trucks brought it. Give them space

September 17, 2018

With nearly 20,000 trucking companies operating on Iowa’s 114,383 miles of roadways, it’s a pretty good bet you’ll encounter a large truck just about any time you’re on the road. Next time you come upon a semi, take a minute to think about the professional driver behind the wheel. Remember that their visibility is quite different than that of a four or two-wheeled vehicle. Make sure to give them the room they need to adequately see you and safely maneuver down the road.

Message Monday - Drive like your grandparents and live to be one

September 10, 2018

When you were a teenager, did you think it was torture to have to ride with your grandparents? Most grandparents have been driving for many years and have likely learned some valuable lessons along the way. Obeying the speed limit, buckling up, and not driving aggressively are just a few of the reasons Nana and Papa may still be around to give you a ride to basketball practice or a friend’s house.