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By admin, July 16, 2010 6:21 pm

“I just think there’s too much Big Brother out there,” said Des Moines City Council member Skip Moore on Monday, a quote that began an editorial in the Des Moines Register on Thursday, July 15, 2010. Unlike Councilman Moore, the Iowa newspaper supports the idea of traffic cameras. But there continues to be heated debate across the state over whether their existence is beneficial from a safety standpoint, or a “Big Brother violation.” As a campaign dedicated to safe driving practices, we’d have to side with the former.

Do you support traffic cameras at Iowa intersections? Why or why not? Leave a comment below or vote in our latest Twtpoll.

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By admin, July 14, 2010 9:05 pm

Last year, the New York Times posted an interactive driving simulator online to show how distracted driving – particularly texting – negatively impacts your ability to drive. In the wake of Iowa’s new law against texting while driving, we thought our readers may be interested in a virtual example of why this new law is so important to follow.

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By admin, July 8, 2010 7:40 pm

According to an article posted by @mashable via Twitter, new MyFord Touch-equipped cars will let drivers block incoming calls and texts with a “Do Not Disturb” button. The biggest addition, however, is support for a new protocol (MAP) that will allow SYNC to read aloud incoming text messages over Bluetooth.

The new version of SYNC — available on 2011 models with MyFord Touch — will also include a “Do Not Disturb” button that will give drivers the ability to block incoming texts and calls, but still make outgoing calls.

To read the full article, click here.

Does this kind of technology play a role in your decision to purchase a new vehicle? Leave a comment, or vote in our latest TwtPoll.

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By admin, July 2, 2010 8:00 am

Tens of thousands of Iowans will be hitting the road this week for the 4th of July holiday. Not only will law enforcement be enforcing Iowa’s new cell phone law banning texting and more while behind the wheel, but they will be in full force across the state to crack down on drunk drivers, distracted drivers, speeders and other traffic violators.

Read the full news release issued by the Iowa Department of Public Safety (IDPS) below:

In conjunction with the Fourth of July holiday period, Iowa law enforcement agencies are announcing they will again be out in full force starting July 2nd through the 5th, cracking down on impaired drivers and other traffic violators to prevent crashes and save lives.

With hopes of warmer weather and an extended weekend, law enforcement will gear up for the 4th of July weekend. In addition to speed and seat belt violators, they will target drunk drivers. “Driving while drunk isn’t worth the tremendous risk,” said Larry Sauer, Bureau Chief at the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau. “No matter your age, if you’ve had too much holiday spirit, you’d better find a safe and sober ride home or your chances of arrest are high.”

Sauer cited recent statistics to underscore the importance of the crackdown. “According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the 2008 July 4th holiday period (6:00 p.m. Thursday July 3rd to 5:59 a.m. Monday July 7th), our nation recorded a total of 491 traffic-related deaths.”

Although Iowa had only 2 traffic fatalities in 2009, our 10-year average for this holiday period is 5. “Too many people still fail to understand that not buckling up, not driving the speed limit and driving impaired leads to loss of lives. It’s vitally important that we bring this tragic situation to an end,” said Sauer. “The cost of not obeying these and other traffic laws could be your life or the life of a loved one.”

During the 2009 July sTEP wave (special Traffic Enforcement Program), 237 agencies had contact with 472 alcohol/drug impaired drivers, 1,465 seat belt violators and 6,435 speed violators. In all, more than 16,200 traffic violations were recorded. Beyond these violations, officers assisted 844 motorists, investigated 344 traffic crashes and apprehended 143 wanted persons.

Driving out of town for the Fourth of July? Leave us a comment, or weigh in on our poll below.

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By admin, June 16, 2010 1:15 pm

Nick Anderson, spokesperson for Drive Safe Cedar Valley, shared some important safety messages with a younger audience today. He spoke to children attending the Quakerdale Mobile Camp at Hammond Brethren Church in Waterloo about seatbelt, pedestrian and bicycle safety. For more photos, visit the Drive Safe Cedar Valley Facebook page.

You can also listen in below to a YouTube video snippet of Nick chatting with the camp kids.

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By admin, June 14, 2010 3:18 pm

In an effort to reduce rural highway center line crossover crashes, the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) has adopted a policy to include center line rumble strips on certain sections of two-lane highways. According to a recent news release, 18-inch wide grooves will be milled into the center of the road to alert inattentive drivers when their vehicles are about to cross into the opposite lane.

Three test projects for center line rumble strips have already been installed on U.S. 34 in Union County, U.S. 52 in Dubuque County and U.S. 61 in Des Moines County.

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By admin, June 9, 2010 8:00 am

RAGBRAI 2010 will be rolling through Waterloo before you know it! The city will be an overnight stop on Thursday, July 29. It’s important that Cedar Valley drivers are aware of the routes, as thousands of bicyclists will be wheeling their way into and out of town. Are you avoiding certain roads during RAGBRAI? Leave a comment and let us know!

To view the full statewide route map, click here.
To view the Waterloo route map, click here.
To view a map of Waterloo, click here.

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By admin, June 3, 2010 4:14 pm

Be extra cautious on the road if you’re heading to downtown Waterloo this weekend. My Waterloo Days, a community-wide, annual festival organized by volunteers to showcase and celebrate Waterloo’s cultural and recreational opportunities, kicks off today in downtown Waterloo! And, that means big crowds, lots of pedestrians and heavier traffic. Stay alert behind the wheel. Don’t drink and drive. Set your cell phone down.

Our lives are in your hands. Let’s make this year’s celebration as safe as possible for everyone!

To view or download maps for this year’s My Waterloo Days parade route, 5k walk/run and more, click here.

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By admin, June 3, 2010 8:00 am

Saturdays in June are the deadliest on Iowa’s roadways, according to state data. So, for the second consecutive year, the Iowa State Patrol will be shifting work schedules to add troopers to state highways on Saturday nights through the month of June. Troopers will focus on drunken drivers in the program they’re calling “Safe Saturdays.”

“Last year when we started Safe Saturdays, I was hopeful it would be a good project, positively impacting Iowa,” said Colonel Patrick Hoye, Chief of the Iowa State Patrol. “But the project far exceeded my expectations.  It was so successful ,we’re doing it again in 2010.”

Read the full Iowa State Patrol news release announcing this year’s Safe Saturdays initiative here.

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By admin, June 2, 2010 3:03 pm

Everyone’s in a hurry these days. Places to go, people to see, right? But our often hurried lives can carry over to the way we drive – with a dangerous effect. We came across the following YouTube video, which depicts several minutes worth of traffic camera clips of some serious intersection crashes and close calls. We could go on and on about the bad decision-making made by drivers in this video, but we don’t have to. The video speaks for itself. Let’s prevent these types of situations from happening in the Cedar Valley.

Sobering to watch, isn’t it? That brings us to our latest TwtPoll: How do you respond when a traffic light turns yellow? Cast your vote, or leave a comment below. We love feedback!