Category: Traffic Incident Management
Roadside Chat – Using your blinker. Very demure. Very mindful.
September 27, 2024
The whole world seems to be talking about being “demure” and “mindful.” But what does that actually mean? According to Jools Lebron the TikToker who started the trending phrase, it refers to “a refined, subtle elegance in various contexts.” What could be more refined and elegant than helping others sharing the road with you understand where you are going by using your turn signal?
Roadside Chat – Jolene, Jolene I'm begging you to buckle your kids
September 20, 2024
In Dolly Parton’s 1973 hit she famously begs a beauty named Jolene to not take her man away from her. Much like Jolene, the road can be a cruel mistress taking those we love away from us by not practicing safe behaviors.
One simple thing you can do to keep those you love safe from the dangers of the road is make sure that your kids, or anyone in your vehicle for that matter, are safely buckled, every trip, every time.
Roadside Chat – Friday the 13th – Avoid ladders and speeding
September 13, 2024
In Western superstition, a Friday that falls on the thirteenth day of the month is considered bad luck. There are many stories about the origin of the superstition and a whole franchise showcases the bad luck of the characters that appear in the movies.
For many, Friday the thirteenth is a day where you should not tempt fate and avoid things like walking under ladders, opening an umbrella inside, or placing a mirror in a place where it could break. Other risky behavior that is smart to avoid any day of the month is speeding behind the wheel.
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 – 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.”
Collaborative efforts taking shape for planning safer work zones
April 15, 2024
With the relatively mild winter we’ve had, you’ve likely already encountered work zones on Iowa roads. With National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week kicking off today, here's more information about how we work with our partners to plan safer work zones for everyone.
At the end of last year, we convened our third Work Zone Information Sharing Workshop. The two-day meeting brought together not just Iowa DOT management, central office, and field forces, but our partners in law enforcement, academia, motor carriers, traffic control contractors, the traffic management center, and Federal Highway Administration officials.
How you can help keep Iowa roads safer
March 4, 2024
One of the main things you need to be safe on the road is predictability. That means getting from Point A to Point B without any surprises. Whenever an unexpected incident happens, whether it is a crash, stalled vehicle, debris on the road, or anything else that could impact traffic, your trip becomes less predictable and more hazardous.
At the Iowa DOT, we rely on a lot of tools to help keep your trip as predictable as possible. Two of our core values, Safety First and Customer Focus, are put into practice doing just that in our Traffic Management Center in Ankeny. The dedicated staff monitors hundreds of roadside cameras 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and fields incoming calls from law enforcement and other sources. They then work to make sure you have the information you need by lighting up the message signs along the road and posting information to the 511 system.
Above and beyond – just a few stories from the snowstorms of January 2024
January 29, 2024
The rash of January snowstorms put a real strain on our resources but many don’t realize the things our snow fighters do to make sure you can safely get to where you need to go. During this most recent storm, we had several garage staff who worked 12- to 16-hour shifts for 16 days straight. In some areas, there are no hotels close enough to ensure that our snow fighters can safely and easily get back to the shop for their next shift. It’s not uncommon for these dedicated men and women to sleep in sleeping bags on cots in the garages, unable to get back home for days at a time for a home-cooked meal or to sleep in their own bed. But as is always the case, our crews stepped up and did what needed to be done. There are dozens of stories out there that may never be told outside of the garage, but here are just a few stories that have been shared of DOTers who went above and beyond the call of duty.