Category: Roadside Chat
Roadside Chat – Cyclone or Hawkeye? Both wear helmets – just sayin.'
September 6, 2024
This weekend Iowa’s annual CyHawk series takes place in Iowa City. Whether you are rooting for the team in cardinal and gold or the one in black and gold, one piece of equipment that is consistent on both sides of the field is a helmet.
Roadside Chat – Drive High – Get OWI
August 30, 2024
It doesn’t matter what term you use — high, stoned, or wasted. It also doesn’t matter if the substance was legally or illegally obtained. Getting behind the wheel after using any type of substance that can impair you is extremely dangerous. In every U.S. state and territory, it is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs — no exceptions.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration here are some ways that substances can impair your ability to drive.
- Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs can slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times.
- Cocaine and methamphetamine can make drivers more aggressive and reckless.
- Using two or more drugs at the same time, including alcohol, can amplify the impairing effects of each drug a person has consumed.
- Some prescription and over-the-counter medicinescan cause extreme drowsiness, dizziness, and other side effects. Read and follow all warning labels before driving, and note that warnings against “operating heavy machinery” include driving a vehicle.
Roadside Chat – Drive chill - be cool. Kids are back in school
August 23, 2024
Today marks the first day of school for many Iowa students. As kids and their parents settle back into their routines the roads might look a bit different than they did during the summer months. While most people think of encountering school traffic in the city, near schools, you need to be school-aware in residential areas and out in the country.
Even if you aren’t personally a part of the school traffic, you still need to be aware of the changes happening around you.
Roadside Chat – Chips & dips. Tailgating may add both to your car.
August 16, 2024
This weekend wraps up the Iowa State Fair which means tailgating season is right around the corner! A snack staple for tailgate parties is chips and dips. While delicious in your belly, they aren’t so great when they end up on your car.
One way to avoid chips and dips on your car is to leave the tailgating to football parking lots and keep it off the highway. Tailgating falls into the category of aggressive driving which according to AAA, also includes speeding in heavy traffic, cutting in front of another driver and then slowing down, running red lights, weaving in and out of traffic, changing lanes without signaling, and blocking cars attempting to pass or change lanes.
Roadside Chat – Got fair fever? Eat a pork chop & buckle your ham.
August 9, 2024
Today marks day number two of an Iowa tradition, the State Fair. According to the Fair’s website, “Fair Fever is contagious and only a prescription of Fair food, games, rides, competition, and over-the top entertainment will cure it.”
Roadside Chat – Track speed wins gold. Road speed wins a ticket.
August 2, 2024
The Olympics are in full swing and at the time of this writing America was in second place for the highest number of gold medals. This weekend’s schedule is filled with various track and field events where pushing for faster and faster speeds can win you a shot at a gold medal.
Unfortunately, speeding while behind the wheel will not earn you the same accolades. It could easily earn you a ticket or worse, have deadly consequences.
Roadside Chat – Leave the flipping to Suni and Simone. Drive safe speeds.
July 26, 2024
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.
Roadside Chat – Pay attention to reach your destination
July 19, 2024
Munching, music, and maps, oh my! There are so many seemingly common things that you might do behind the wheel that can put you, your passengers, and everyone who shares the road with you in harm's way.
Roadside Chat – Facetime and windshield time could crack you up
July 12, 2024
Mobile devices have allowed us to not only hear the person on the other end of the line, but also see them. It can be a great way to stay in touch and share a laugh or two with your loved ones. But mixing video chatting with driving can become a deadly mix.
Unfortunately, using your phone to video chat is just one of many types of distraction. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, mobile phone use was involved in 12% of car crashes.
Roadside Chat – What rhymes with whiskey? Risky! Drive sober.
July 5, 2024
Most people enjoy a good rhyme. Heck, without them Dr. Seuss and rap music wouldn’t be nearly as catchy. A good rhyme can also serve to remind us of the dangerous behaviors we may be about to partake in.
You may enjoy a few alcoholic beverages to celebrate the holiday weekend. If drinking is on your agenda, here are a few tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to keep you safe:
- Plan your safe ride home before you start the party, choose a non-drinking friend as a designated driver.
- If someone you know has been drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel. Take their keys and help them arrange a sober ride home.
- If you drink, do not drive for any reason. Call a taxi, a ride-hailing service, or a sober friend.
- If you’re hosting a party where alcohol will be served, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
- Always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
Thanks to Corey T. for the nugget that inspired this message!
In 2024 in Iowa, 137 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of 9 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