Crash Numbers

Iowa fatal traffic crash numbers have decreased over the last year. Read about the factors that may have contributed to the decrease (KCCI website).

A daily traffic fatality count is available from the Iowa DOT. (pdf)

Hands-Free Driving

June 2013 report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety that measures cognitive distraction while driving.

www.aaafoundation.org/measuring-cognitive-distractions

Pedalcyclists

New "Bicyclists and Other Cyclists" Traffic Safety Facts (2011 Data) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (pdf)

Pedalcyclists - bicyclists and riders of two-wheel nonmotorized vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles powered solely by pedals.

In 2011, 48,000 pedalcyclists were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. The highest injury rate occurred in the 16-20 age group.

Seat Belt Use

In 2011, the National Occupant Protection Use Survey showed seat belt use was 84% and seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives among passenger vehicle occupants age 5 and older.
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts - 2011 Data (pdf)

In 2012, the Iowa Seat Belt Use Survey showed Iowa's overall seat belt use rate was 92.38%.
Source: Iowa DOT (pdf)

Slow Down, It's Summer

Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates the annual economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is $40.4 billion.

Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts - 2010 Data (pdf)

Summer Break

The percentage of drivers 16 to 24 visibly using hand-held devices while driving increased from 1.5% in 2010 to 3.7% in 2011. (Data from nationwide probability-based observational survey.)

Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts - Driver Electronic Device Use in 2011 (pdf)

2011 Commute Minutes

Average commute time for all full-time American workers
= 25.5 minutes each way.

For general commuters:

• 79.9% drove alone
• 10.1% carpooled
• 5.3% took public transit
• 4.8% rode a bike, walked/other

In the U.S. Census Bureau's Out-of-State and Long Commutes: 2011 (pdf) report, 8.1% of full-time workers made long commutes (60 minutes or more each way). Of the long commuters:

• 61.1% drove alone
• 12.9% carpooled
• 23% took public transit
• 2.9% rode a bike, walked/other

3.7% of workers living in Iowa had commutes of 60 minutes or longer.

600,000 full-time workers in the U.S. are megacommuters (90 minutes each way over a distance of at least 50 miles).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Newsroom

Great friends, great times, and great results.

Wear your seat belt - Seriously, buckle up.

Watch your speed.

If the light is red - STOP!

Your Plan - Choices

If there is one constant in our world, it is change. If you don't, or are unwilling to adapt to what's going on around you, you are likely to make choices without enough information and can expect to see different outcomes than you want. Having a plan, whether short or long term can help you get where you want to go.

If you surround yourself with people that respect you, your decisions, and make good choices themselves, you won't be tempted to take a dangerous detour.

drawing unity from a group

If you choose to be a leader, you set the tone for your life and those who follow you. Is there only one kind of leader? What characteristics make a good leader?

You cannot force other people to lead, but you can encourage people to find good leaders to follow.

A good leader will promote collaboration, give others ownership and independence, recognize individual contributions, and celebrate group accomplishments.

No Texts, No Calls, Just Drive

We have a message and a design!

Texting takes your eyes off the road an average of 5 seconds at a time. At 55 mph, that is like driving the length of a football field without looking at the road!
Source: Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

Degrees of Driving

In 2011, Iowa had 679 traffic crashes resulting from a driver distracted by a phone or other device. Source: Iowa DOT (pdf)

The experience and ability we acquire and the choices we make while driving can have an impact on many people. The impact can be immediate, the person we crashed into, or it can have a ripple effect.

It's what we do together...

When people work on a project together, friendships form, skills are developed, and a new career path may be found. A campus or community project can put you in touch with people you may not otherwise meet or opportunities you may not otherwise have.

Think about your campus and community, what issues need to be addressed? What would you like to do? What would benefit the most people?

Outdoor Activities

Traffic safety T-shirts given to all participants!

The awareness event consisted of three activities including a spinning wheel with questions about alcohol-impaired and distracted driving, vision goggles bean bag toss, and impaired velcro catch.

Performing

As team members become more comfortable with each other, and better understand the project and what is expected of them, they become a more effective unit with everyone working together.

The table event was a success! Drowsy driving message T-shirts, distracted driving wrist lanyards, and  safety message pens were distributed.

Messages

Are the messages clear?
Are you using consistent design that is simple and memorable?
Are credible sources of information cited to support the messages?
Are the messages relevant to your audience?
What are you suggesting as a next step?

Norming

During this stage, members reconcile competing loyalties and responsibilities. They accept the team, team ground rules (norms), their roles in the team, and individuality of fellow members.

10-80-10

There are usually 10% of students on your campus that are the positive, the inspired, the students with beliefs that align with yours and never falter.

Then there are the 80% that ride the fence. They're not sure what they think. They watch things happen and jump on board after they know it's safe.

And there is the last 10%. These are the students that may not like your ideas no matter how much energy you put into your activity, event, or cause.

Where should the group focus their efforts?

Storming

Storming is probably the most difficult stage for the team. They begin to realize the task is different and often more difficult than they imagined, becoming easily irritated, blameful, or overzealous.

Impatient about the lack of progress, and perhaps new to group consensus, members may argue about just what actions the team should take. They may try to rely solely on their personal experience, resisting any need for collaborating with other team members.

Forming

When a team is forming, members cautiously explore the boundaries of acceptable group behavior. This is a stage of transition from individual to member status, and of testing the leader's guidance both formally and informally.

a leader will emerge...

Team Building

Working well together in groups is a process. Whether it's a club, a sports team, or an employee work group, the typical evolution of a team includes: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing

Project Focus