Transportation Matters fOR Iowa

Category: What Drives You Iowa

Roadside Chat - Take action against distraction

Roadside Chat - Take action against distraction

December 1, 2023

12-1 take action against distractionThis time of year many of us have extra tasks to complete with the holidays quickly approaching. If you’re also traveling, trying to multi-task when you’re behind the wheel might be tempting.

Roadside Chat - Pass: Food to the right, cars on the left

Roadside Chat - Pass: Food to the right, cars on the left

November 24, 2023

11-24 pass food to the rightWe’re in the midst of a busy holiday travel season. It is a wonderful time to share meals with loved ones. Often that means sharing the road to get to and from those festive gatherings.

To be as safe as possible, it’s important that we all share a common understanding of basic driving rules. Driver’s education for our kids is great, but for some of us, it’s been a few years since we’ve had that kind of instruction.

Roadside Chat - Protect those who protect you. Move over for them.

Roadside Chat - Protect those who protect you. Move over for them.

November 17, 2023

11-17 protect those who protect youThis week we recognize all of our first responders for the work they do every day to keep us safer on the road with “Crash Responder Safety Week.”

These brave men and women put their lives on the line to do all they can to help your loved ones at a crash scene, Their wish is that you do all you can do as a driver to protect them so they can make it home safely to their families.

Roadside Chat - Watch for deer in headlights. They don't

Roadside Chat - Watch for deer in headlights. They don't

November 10, 2023

11-10 watch for deerIt’s that time of year again. Harvest is wrapping up, unsettling deer out of the relative safety of the farm fields and into more open areas. On top of being disrupted from the fields, it’s mating season, which means more deer are on the move for the annual rut. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, you may be distracted by the first deer crossing a road not seeing the buck pursuing the first deer. This time of year, you should be on the lookout for multiple scenarios of fast-moving, unpredictable deer crossing highways.

Roadside Chat - Tires and tired don't go together. Drive alert.

Roadside Chat - Tires and tired don't go together. Drive alert.

November 3, 2023

11-3 tires and tiredIt’s time to “fall back” this weekend with Daylight Savings Time ending at 2 a.m. on Nov. 5. Even though the fall time change can mean an extra hour of sleep, the change often means interrupted sleep patterns for many, which can equal danger while driving.

Take an honest look at your sleep habits, not just during time changes, but every day. Do you get enough rest to be safe behind the wheel?

Roadside Chat - Traffic deaths up 10%. That's scary.

Roadside Chat - Traffic deaths up 10%. That's scary.

October 27, 2023

10-27 traffic deaths upWith Halloween just around the corner, lots of people are scrambling for last-minute costumes and binge-watching movies meant to conjure up the perception of danger. While that scary sensation can provide fun and entertainment, Iowa’s roads are no place for a fright.

Roadside Chat - Pass on left, get it right

Roadside Chat - Pass on left, get it right

October 20, 2023

10-20 pass on leftWhich lane should you be in when driving on a four-lane highway?  From the comments we get on social media, slow left-lane drivers are a major pet peeve. But what’s the real safety story?

All drivers are safest when they are traveling at a safe speed. Driving too fast or too slow based on the speed of the others around you can increase the danger for everyone in the area.

Roadside Chat - Why tempt fate? That text can wait.

Roadside Chat - Why tempt fate? That text can wait.

October 13, 2023

10-13 why tempt fateDo you feel lucky? Every time you pick up your phone when you’re driving, you’re rolling the dice with your own life and the lives of those on the road with you.

Research by Texas A&M Transportation Institute notes that texting doubles your reaction time, which means you respond more slowly in an emergency. The research consisted of drivers maneuvering around a test track, once without texting and then again while texting while measuring reaction time to lights on the course.

Roadside Chat – Got speeding issues? Get over it slowly.

Roadside Chat – Got speeding issues? Get over it slowly.

October 6, 2023

10-6 got speeding issuesWhen you see a speed limit sign, do you use it to guide your decision-making about the maximum speed you should be going, or do you think of it as merely a suggestion?

Speeding and other aggressive driving habits like tailgating and weaving in and out of traffic are some of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel. So ease up on the accelerator.

Roadside Chat - Seat belts, keeping it together since 1959

Roadside Chat - Seat belts, keeping it together since 1959

September 29, 2023

9-29 seat beltsIf you’ve ever felt the tug of a seat belt in a crash or sudden stop, you may owe your life to a Swedish engineer. In 1959, Nils Bohlin invented the three-point seat belt that is still in use today and has saved more than a million lives.

The continuous belt that Bohlin invented for automaker Volvo had one section running diagonally across the body and another section across the lap. This design revolutionized automobile safety. Volvo realized the value of this innovation, but also the impact it could have, so it allowed the technology to transfer to other automakers for free.

NOT FINDING WHAT YOU NEED? WE CAN HELP.

©  Iowa Department of Transportation.  All rights reserved.