Drive-Ride

Respect

2010-07-13T12:20:00.010-05:00

When I consider traffic safety, I don't necessarily think about trains. I think it is because they seem demure. Let me explain. Trains are confined. They are slightly annoying when you are late, and they inconsiderately decide to zoom by on their tracks. However, they are not going to pull out in front of you and cut you off in the middle of the intersection. They are not going to be conducted by a drunk driver who puts your life at risk any time they get on the road. They are fairly predictable-- same route, same trajectory. Furthermore-- it is not a danger you can control or usually have to respond to-- like an animal dashing in front of the road or your own sleepiness to contend with.

However, in the same way that a gentle giant (say an elephant?) might be underestimated, unfortunately trains can be underestimated as well. This past year in Iowa, more than 52 collisions involving trains occurred according to a report by kimt News 3.

According to this same report, it can be difficult to gauge exactly how far away a train is. When the lights start flashing, people may still assume they have plenty of time to get across the tracks safely. Unfortunately, this is often not the case.

Here are some things you should be aware of:

Although trains may seem predictable, they are not on a set schedule-- do not assume just because a train usually comes at 3 p.m., it is okay to cross at 2:45 p.m.

Train tracks are actually considered private property- it is illegal to be walking on them.

It is very difficult for a train to stop. When one is going 65 mph, it can take up to a mile to stop with emergency brakes.

Trains overhang by about 3 feet on each side of the tracks-- so walking along side the tracks can be very dangerous.

Never stop on the tracks! Do not put yourself in that dangerous of a position.

Never try and 'outrace' a train-- it is not worth the risk.

Respect is a big part of traffic safety, and having respect for trains and the amount of power they hold will serve you well.

*To learn more about train safety and check out where the information for the above post was derived from, check out the following link.

Txting as major form of communication

2010-07-13T10:25:00.003-05:00

Communication. Pssh, why should I care, right? Why does it matter how you communicate? It is something that we are very interested in, because the connections that you make and the way that you make them are inextricably tied with your safety. And what is tied with your safety is inextricably tied with ours. So I have a pretty big investment in the way that you think, speak, and basically make connections with other human beings. At some point, you may be on the road, communicating away, while driving on the same road as my little sister-- and then yes. I become very interested.

According to Pew research, teens ages 12- 17 (and therefore the college students of new) favor texting over all other forms of communication. Texting beats talking face-to-face by a whopping 21%! Over 1/3 of teens send over 100 messages a day.

Knowing this is important, because it tells me that texting has become a huge priority and way to stay in contact with your world. This can be a double edged sword-- having the cell phone available every moment of every day can provide you with instant access to call authorities, towing companies, your parents... in the event of an accident. However, not being tied to the cell phone at every instance can possibly prevent an accident due to distracted driving. What do you think?

July 1, 2010 - Traffic Fines

2010-06-23T14:14:00.004-05:00

Traffic Fines Going Up In Iowa - KCAU-TV Sioux City
Expect to Pay Much More For Traffic Fines - KCCI Des Moines

July 1, 2010 - Buckle Up!

2010-06-21T14:28:00.000-05:00

New Law: More Teens Must Soon Buckle Up - KCCI Des Moines
New Iowa seat belt law - Sioux City Journal

Digital Footprint

2010-03-10T14:37:00.018-06:00

Have you ever Googled your name? Did you find something you didn't expect to see?

Every search result is a product of your digital life. Once you post something online, it's hard to remove... it may be there well into your second or third career. Those pictures from your 21st birthday party, you know, the really funny ones? They aren't so funny when you get turned downed for a job because a prospective employer found them.

Things that you never expected to see could appear. Maybe you played sports in high school; your stats could show up. Or maybe you were quoted in a newspaper article, and that could appear. Or, even more horrifying, your parents could have posted pictures of you when you were young on a site they use to talk to old high school buddies. You never know what could show up, so be wary of what you put out there.

Did you ever think about how often your face is captured on video in a store? Or what about speed and red light cameras? Do you really want to be associated with breaking traffic laws? You leave a digital footprint wherever you go, whether you notice it or not.

According to Pew Research, "Most internet users are not sure exactly what personal information is available online:

Roughly one third of internet users say the following pieces of information are available online: their email address, home address, home phone number, or their employer. One quarter to one third of internet users say they do not know if those data points are available online.
One quarter of internet users say a photo, names of groups they belong to, or things they have written that have their name on them appear online.
Few internet users say their political affiliation, cell phone number, or videos of them appear online."

Food for thought:
We live in a technology-centered world, and because of that, digital footprints are becoming increasingly important. So who is responsible for educating the masses? Should there be a class in school? Is it parents' responsibility?

Source:

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/663/digital-footprints

Pedestrian Perils

2010-03-02T17:21:00.023-06:00

Many of us would like to think that we are careful pedestrians. After all, pedestrians have the right-of-way, don't they?

According to the IA DOT Driver's Manual (pg 52), "Motorists should yield to you in marked crosswalks, but do not bet your life on it! If you cross the street anywhere but at a crosswalk, you must yield to motorized traffic."

Iowa averages over 500 traffic-related pedestrian injuries each year. During 2009, 22 pedestrians were killed in Iowa traffic crashes.

Pedestrian actions contributing to traffic fatalities include:

not crossing the street at crosswalks
walking in an improper position on the roadway
running onto the roadway from between parked cars
drinking

To cross campus safely on foot:

Cross the street at marked crosswalks or at intersections, and observe traffic-control signals.
Yield to motor vehicles and bicyclists when you are not in the crosswalk or are not crossing at an intersection.
Stay to the right on shared pathways and avoid walking in "bike only" lanes.
While walking or jogging alongside a road without sidewalks, always walk or jog facing traffic.
Make eye contact with oncoming motorists and cyclists, and indicate your intention to cross.
Be observant - be seen - be safe: avoid cell phone use when walking in congested areas or crossing busy streets; wear bright colors and walk in well-lighted areas at night; don't step into the street from behind an obstruction.

Sources:

3/2/2010 from Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau (pdf)

3/2/2010 from walkinginfo.org
3/2/2010 from streetshare.org

Sidewalk Ice Dancing

2010-02-23T16:42:00.004-06:00

We all know how slippery the sidewalks are in the winter. Falling on icy surfaces are "same-level" falls and two types of slips usually occur. One type of slip is where the heel of the forward foot contacts the walking surface, the front foot slips forward and the person falls backward. Another type of slip is when the rear foot slips backwards, the forward force is on the sole of the rear foot and as the rear heel is lifted the force moves to the front of the sole and the person falls.

Traction is the force that allows us to walk without slipping and traction is measured as the "coefficient of friction (COF)." To prevent slips and falls a high COF is needed between shoes and the walking surface. Shoes with soft rubber soles and heels with rubber cleats provide a high COF (0.40-0.50). On very slippery surfaces, falling down may be unavoidable, especially when you're in a rush, and no type of footwear may provide a safe COF.

On a positive note, think of all the cool new dance moves that are created when people have close calls. For instance, there's the Jazz Hands, the Disco Man, the Bear Crawl, the Pretty Princess, the Matrix Man, and the MJ. Maybe you have some of your own moves to add to the list.

Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension

Distracted Walking

2010-02-17T14:03:00.130-06:00

Bob, distracted by a big exam he was about to take, walked out of his residence hall on a mission to make it to class on time. He wanted to get an A on this test. He was listening to his iPod to pump himself up. A friend texted him "good luck." While texting back he failed to notice the ice patch on the sidewalk ahead of him. He hit the ice and his feet flew out in front of him. Not only did he fall, he slid into a group of people and knocked them over.

Why is ice slippery? There's a lot of science behind walking on a warm sunny day, but add some winter into the mix and we have some difficulties. Ice is the solid state of water. Many solids retain their shape, but with ice it's not quite like that. The top layer isn't "packed in" like the rest of the layers, so it can move a bit. This is called a quasi-liquid layer and this thin layer of water causes us to slip. Slips and falls on low-friction surfaces cause many injuries a year and tribologists continue to study sliding surfaces and the role of friction.

What could Bob have done to prevent a fall?

1. Paid closer attention to his surroundings.
2. Taken smaller steps to maintain his balance when he encountered the ice patch.
3. Chosen appropriate footwear for the weather conditions.

Sources:
www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2009/091207KneppSnowflake.html
www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427392.000

Walk/Don't Walk

2010-02-06T12:41:00.006-06:00

A short online news article about the first "Walk/Don't Walk" sign caught my eye this week. The date of installation seemed fairly recent and surprising, so I did some searching.

A researcher at the Federal Highway Administration discovered the beginning timeframe of the walk/don't walk sign to be between 1938-1940, but not the location of the first sign. Check out the origin of pedestrian safety and the pedestrian scramble.

TheCommuter

Sleep-Impaired

2010-02-01T11:07:00.080-06:00

It's 11:30 pm, you have just finished a long project and are ready to drive home. You have been awake since 6:00 that morning and the day is starting to wear you down. You crank up the radio and sit up a little straighter to combat the heaviness of your eyes. Are you sober enough to drive home?

Studies show that being awake for more than 18 hours results in an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05, 20 hours = 0.08, and 24 hours = 0.10 - more than legally drunk.

Half of American adults consistently report they have driven drowsy and around 20% actually admit they have fallen asleep at the wheel in the previous year. In a recent national poll, 15% of drivers in 10th-12th grades stated they drove drowsy at least once a week.

Sleepiness can cause as much harm as alcohol when deciding to get behind the wheel.

Sources: National Sleep Foundation
Drowsy Driving Fact Sheets: (pdf), (pdf), (pdf)

LumberJack

A lot of Ground

2010-01-31T12:12:00.002-06:00

According to the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Western Dubuque Community School District:

- covers 555 square miles (half the land area of Rhode Island)
- transports students to 20 different schools
- more than 21% of students live on gravel roads

Sources: Jan 31 THonline.com, RI sq miles

Biking

2010-01-30T09:35:00.008-06:00

Iowa Bicycle Summit: January 29-30, 2010
RAGBRAI 2010 - Sioux City to Dubuque, July 25-31
Des Moines Register

Alliance for Biking and Walking - 2010 Benchmarking Report:
8% of trips in Iowa are by bicycle or foot, but 7% of the state's traffic fatalities are bicyclists or pedestrians. (report pdf)

The report ranks Iowa 32nd in the nation for bicycle safety.
Sources: Radio Iowa, Iowa Bicycle Coalition, KCCI

Over 450 bicyclists are injured annually as a result of Iowa traffic crashes.

Source: Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau

Links

DOT Iowa Bikes
Iowa Bicycle Coalition
Bike Iowa
RAGBRAI
Iowa Bike Racing Clubs
2009 Iowa DOT Map for Bicyclists

Original Post: October 20, 2009

Emergency!

2010-01-18T19:07:00.011-06:00

I was recently driving on a divided highway and met an ambulance. I'll admit it, I almost panicked. I couldn't remember if I was supposed to pull over or slow down or do anything. So, being the conscientious driver that I am, I decided to investigate this situation for all of us.

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with lights flashing, you must pull into the opposite lane and if this isn't possible you must slow down to pass it. When an emergency vehicle (an ambulance, fire truck or a police car) is coming towards you, you must pull over on the side of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed you. However, as in my situation, when you are on a divided highway you don't have to yield to emergency vehicles that are going the opposite direction from you.

Hopefully this will give you a mental refresher of Driver's Ed and what to do when you see emergency vehicles.

http://www.511ia.org/rules/rulesoftheroad.htm

photo credit

http://blog.pennlive.com/pennsyltucky/2007/09/emergency-vehicle.jpg

Nightmare at night

2010-01-18T14:20:00.008-06:00

Nighttime is by far the most dangerous time to be on the roads. It is dangerous for a variety of reasons: Reduced visibility, driver fatigue, drunk drivers, and age. The people who are most at risk are young inexperienced drivers. Some believe that since headlights are covering the road directly in front of the car that night driving is almost as safe as driving during the day. However, peripheral vision is greatly diminished and the glare from on coming headlights can momentarily blind a person. Also, if headlights are not working properly the increase in danger is exponential. According to a study by the University of Iowa, a 20 to 50% reduction in headlight out put leads to a 90% increase in the possibility of an accident occurring.

The other dangers are sometimes not thought of either. They often occur because of another driver. Fatigue from a long day could set in and you could fall asleep at the wheel. But, did it occur to you that another driver may have the same scenario and they could involve you in their predicament.

Another danger comes from the increased number of people driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. Even though people are aware of the danger many of them still decide to drive home drunk.

These reasons are why more then half of all motor vehicle deaths in teenagers happen between 9 pm and 6 am.

Snowplows

2010-01-15T10:35:00.000-06:00

Iowa DOT Blog: A day in the life of a snowplow operator

Solar Roads

2009-12-15T14:19:00.006-06:00

Winter driving. The white knuckle slide, the scraping sound underneath the car, and the glorious dry pavement. I've often wondered if roads could be imbedded with solar devices to warm the pavement of ice and snow. While this video doesn't answer that question, it does explore an interesting alternative energy concept.

Solar Roadways Video

2009-12-10T16:27:00.010-06:00

I can remember 9 years ago when I went to see the movie "Snow Day". This movie is about a group of kids who try to hijack the snowplow on a snow day in order to keep the school closed for longer. These kids pull ridiculous pranks on the snowplow driver. While it's an amusing movie, I feel almost sorry for the poor snowplow driver.

In real life these drivers work night and day to keep the roads safe and clear. They have to work around vehicles, water hydrants and many other things. While this is a service we all appreciate, I will admit I have been really upset by a plow burying my car in snow. We can all do things to help us be prepared for snow and snowplows. Make sure you have an ice scraper and brush in your house. That way you won't have to get into your car before it's cleaned off to get your scraper. Park in your designated spot, outside your house, building, etc., or in a garage if you have one. Something that is not very smart to do is to leave your car in a large parking lot, such as outside a store. It will get buried. Let's appreciate what the snowplow drivers do for us and make their jobs easier.

Blog: A day in the life of a snowplow operator

2009-12-08T12:49:00.036-06:00

It has been said that video games affect people in the long-term and that some people may become more aggressive and moody. It has also loosely been associated with obesity and unhealthiness. However, have you ever thought about how it can affect driving and how people perceive driving?

The conscience and cognitive abilities of the brain could directly affect a person’s ability to drive competently. Some studies have shown that there is no effect. However, others say otherwise…

A study performed by Tokyo’s Nihon University showed that the more a person plays video games the less activity there is in the prefrontal cortex of the brain as well as a decrease in the amount of beta waves. What does that mean? The beta waves are directly related to the liveliness of a person. The lack of beta waves has been related with aggression and other angry feelings. Another side effect of video games is the feelings of fear. This would increase the number of times a person's rush of adrenaline is associated with fear.

When thinking about driving ability, people may be less lively and attentive if the beta wave activity was not what it should be. People may not feel the same rush of adrenaline others would feel in a dangerous situation. In a potential crash situation may lack the surge of adrenaline that would be helpful in avoiding it.

Some people may question the validity of these findings…however, have you not seen people act absurdly after losing a video game? People jump, scream, and yell when video games do not go their way. Sometimes they get violent and throw their controller. Is that the action of a rash person? Even a short term mood swing can affect your driving.

Do you believe that video games affect your driving ability or was this just a bunch of scientists crying wolf?

serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1742
image from neuronarrative.files.wordpress.com/2009

More info:
avoid 'Gamer Rage'
video games and aggressive behavior
editorial: video games

Cold Car

2009-12-01T14:52:00.012-06:00

Seatbelt. Check. Mirrors. Check. Gas gauge, oil pressure. Check. I had scraped the ice off my windshield, put my boots in the trunk and was ready to head out on the road. I stepped on the gas. My RMP gauge started rising, but nothing else was happening. I pushed on the gas harder. My RPM jumped to 3,000 then 4,000. I knew something was wrong, just not exactly what. I stepped out of my car, into the winter air.

“Dad!” I ran into the house. “My car won’t go!” “What do you mean?” my dad asked. “It just won’t go.” I repeated. Knowing he would find out what was wrong, I took off in another car. When I returned home later that day, my dad had found the solution to why my car “wouldn’t go”. I had started my car a few minutes before I wanted to leave since it was in the winter and below 20 degrees. Dad had checked the fluids under my trunk and discovered my transmission fluid was low. This was causing my transmission to slip. The cold weather only made it worse. Adding the fluid and letting my car warm up for 10 minutes made all the difference in the world. With winter nearly on us, winterizing vehicles is very important. Go to this site for more information on preparing for winter driving.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/accidents-hazardous-conditions/how-to-prepare-your-car-for-winter1.htm

photo credit: www.cars.justelite.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/_carsf004.jpg

Eventful Trip Back

2009-12-01T14:37:00.011-06:00

It was finally Thanksgiving break. My friends and I were headed back home and having a great time on the road trip. As we traveled northbound on Interstate 35 we happened across an ambulance. Its lights were off and they had a body in the stretcher. As we drove by we watched as they covered the entire body of the victim. Each of us had the same reaction, did we just see someone die on the side of the road. At first we thought it was morbidly eventful. How many times does a person see a dead body along the roadside? However, as the surprise wore off I began to think, “that could have been anybody in the body bag.” I looked at myself. I wasn’t wearing a seat belt; it’s more comfortable to sleep without one. It made me slightly nervous. I began to respect the roads a little more….with a seatbelt on.

image from www.opsi.gov.uk/ si/si2006/06189201.gif

2009-12-01T14:06:00.023-06:00

We live in Iowa. We live right in the middle of Iowa. We are surrounded by farms growing corn and soy beans, accessible via rural, gravel roads. Now, because a lot of us are living in Iowa, many have gone down at least one gravel road while here.

However, there is a huge difference between people who have gone down them once or twice and people that do it regularly. The "first timers" tend to drive slowly and carefully, fearful of the way the gravel moves when its driven on. The people who have lived in Iowa for years have become so comfortable with these roads, they often speed. Speeding on gravel means less traction, so if a driver must avoid something suddenly, they may end up in a ditch. It is also seems to be the norm in rural areas to not wear your seat belts regularly. These two habits are dangerous enough on their own, but when combined, it can make for one terrible crash.

BE SMART-always wear your seat belt and take care when driving on gravel roads.

Image Credit: DL Ennis, Visual Thoughts http://dlennis.wordpress.com/2007/12/

Thank you!

2009-11-30T16:52:00.009-06:00

As 2009 comes to a close, a huge "thank you!" to the team of 25.

To the design group that learned Flash - thank you for the time and energy spent on coloring pixels, testing speed equations, and discussions about deer behavior and the difference between highways and farm to market roads.

In your Car

On the Road

Cups, Keys, Cars

To the kinesiology group - thank you for sharing your knowledge of health and your passion for sports.

Sideline

To the writers - your ability to condense lengthy group discussions into concise words on a page has shaped our projects and determined the focus of our program. Thank you.

Ten Cent Hero

And to the graphic designers - a picture really is worth a thousand words. Thank you for participating in countless strategy sessions, for developing the folder of a thousand formats, and for the careful thought you put into each image and each campaign.

Take Care

The 2010 team wishes you well as you follow new paths to cities and countries far from the heartland. Keep in touch.

Traveling for Turkey?

2009-11-09T14:08:00.005-06:00

The Drive-Ride Team would like to urge you to use your seat belt during the Thanksgiving holiday, one of the most heavily traveled times of the year.

In 2008, seat belts saved an estimated 13,250 lives. An additional 4,152 lives could have been saved if seat belts had been worn at the time of the crashes.

Source: NHTSA (pdf)

Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

2009-11-03T12:23:00.013-06:00

November 2 - 8, 2009

Studies show more than half of all fall-asleep crashes involve drivers age 25 years or younger.

According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2009 Sleep in America Poll, 1% or 1.9 million drivers have had a car crash or a near crash due to drowsiness in the past year.

Sources: drowsydriving.org (pdf), 2009 Sleep in America Poll Summary (pdf)
------------------------

November 4, 2009

Thanks to the ISU students that shared their experiences and participated in the Crash T-shirt give away.

Preventing a Fall-Asleep Crash

2009-10-30T12:24:00.004-05:00

• Get a good night’s sleep before a long drive.
• Get off the road if you notice any of the warning signs of fatigue.
• Take a nap – find a safe place to take a 5 to 20-minute nap.
• Consume caffeine – the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours, but DO NOT rely on it for long periods.
• Try consuming caffeine before taking a short nap to get the benefits of both.
• Drive with a friend. A passenger who remains awake can help watch for signs of fatigue in the driver and can take a turn driving, if necessary.
• Always wear your seatbelt.

Source: http://drowsydriving.org/about/detection-and-prevention/

Chronic All-Nighters?

2009-10-23T09:15:00.002-05:00

"When you're chronically drunk, you can't tell when you're drunk. If you're chronically sleep deprived, you can't tell when you're sleepy. You lose the ability to detect how tired you are. It's not unusual to fall asleep behind the wheel," said Dr. David Schulman, the current medical director of the Emory Clinic Sleep Disorders Laboratory.

Sleepiness, like alcohol, slows reaction time, impairs judgment, and decreases awareness. All these significantly increases the risk of a crash. Source

Most of us would like to think we'd pull over if we were too tired. But most of the symptoms of being too tired are difficult to notice, particularly when sleep deprived. We react to sleep deprivation long before we actually fall asleep at the wheel. So, how many of these things have happened to you behind the wheel?

Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts
Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs
Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
Trouble keeping your head up
Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
Feeling restless and irritable

Source: National Sleep Foundation

how anti-sleep alarms work

Rules of the Road

2009-10-16T11:38:00.018-05:00

Which of the following 'rules of the road' pertain to Iowa bicyclists?

a. You must wear a helmet according to law.
b. You must be aware of the correct hand signals by law to safely inform motorists of your movements.
c. You must obey traffic signals.
d. A and B
e. B and C

Answer

Multi-tasking

2009-09-30T14:24:00.024-05:00

How much time does texting take away the average driver's attention from the road?

a. Not at all - the driver's eyes are always at least partially paying attention to what is happening.
b. 1.3 seconds: Just enough time to text 'LOL'.
c. 2.8 seconds: Just enough time to text 'OMG, G2G'.
d. 3.2 seconds: Just enough time time to drive across a parking lot at 55 mph.
e. 4.6 seconds: Just enough time to drive across an entire football field at 55 mph.

Answer

The New York Times created an interactive game that measures how your reaction time is affected by external distractions.

Technologically Distracted

2009-09-17T17:26:00.007-05:00

Cell phones and texting. The latest and greatest tech tools.

Cell phones and texting are not just dangerous on the road, but believe it or not, while walking.

Dual-tasking slows reaction time. Some people may pride themselves in multi-tasking, but when you are spreading your concentration over multiple activities, you choose what tasks you are thinking about the most. For instance, walking home and talking on the phone. Concentration is divided between walking, holding the phone, the conversation, the stop lights, and the road. What stops you from walking into oncoming traffic?

Source: www.apa.org/monitor/2009/02/dangerous.html