Revving up the DriveRide Project to promote safety.

Buckle up and hold on!

Twitter: DriveRide

Drowsy Driving

Sleepiness can cause: 

• slower reaction times
• vision impairment
• lapses in judgment
• delays in processing information

Studies show that being awake for more than 20 hours results in an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of .08.

And without realizing it, it's also possible to fall into a 3-4 second microsleep.

Preventing a fall-asleep crash:

• Get adequate sleep the night before a long drive.
• Avoid driving alone for long distances.
• Allow time to arrive at your destination rather than be too rushed.
• Avoid driving at times when you would usually be asleep.
• Take a break every 2 hours.

Source: drowsydriving.org

Beginning of the journey

The journey is just beginning. Freshman year has been great so far, we're finally on our own, meeting new people, and trying to make good decisions. Some of us are up all night working on projects at the design building or pulling an all-nighter for that first big test. We're exhausted and now plan to drive home for the weekend to visit the folks.

There is so much pressure to be on time and get places quickly, but driving drowsy slows reaction time and impairs awareness, so why not take that nap and be safe!

Who are you

Have you ever sat down and thought to yourself, why do I do the things I do? Why do I listen to country music one day then switch to R&B the next, or why do I listen to my music instead of conversing with people as I pass them on the street?

Yeah, that sounds cheesy but think about it. Where are we going? What are we doing with our lives, it is about graduating college and making the good bucks or staying close to family? Whatever you choose, it's all about the journey.

Talking Points

The Drive-Ride and Walk media team would like to include information on this blog about transportation topics of interest to you and your friends.

The 2011 fall team would like you to:

• share Get A Grip pens with friends (email getagrip@iastate.edu to coordinate quantities)
• comment on posts on this blog and/or suggest post topics addressing traffic safety concerns

Rotating pen messages:

It's your life to navigate.

Where do you want to go?

Drive-Ride and Walk

Awake. Alert. Sober.

Drinking & Driving - reTHINK IT

draw-portfolio-exchange.blogspot.com

Thank you for helping us with this project!

Drive-Ride and Walk

The Drive-Ride and Walk Portfolio Exchange is an opportunity for college students to work as a team to analyze and interpret information, think critically, create content, and communicate effectively.

The next session will begin the week of September 12. The group meets 1-2 hours per week (in person or electronically) to explore topics and develop transportation safety programming. The volunteer work experience puts into practice ideas about group collaboration and implementation of projects.

Fall 2011 (9 weeks)
Sept 12 - Nov 10 (1-2 hr/wk)
Topics: Distracted and Drowsy Driving
Objectives:
Program Team (all majors)
1. Examine credible/current online traffic safety information.
2. Identify missing conversations.
3. Work with Google docs to create narrative.
4. Develop safety messages.
5. Create online video and graphics.
6. Report on 9 week experience.

To join a media team, please email getagrip@iastate.edu for details.

Three seconds

What are we investing all this time in? All these hours, all this discussion, the money, the colors of the T-shirt, the design, the minutes and hours of conversation at the table in August.

What do we hope to get out of it? Do we expect immediate change? A drastic moral flip? Do we want the alcohol chugging college kids to immediately become saints and join a nunnery?

Well... It would be nice. To see immediate and severe change, drastically affecting the outcome of the generations.

But this is not what we hope for.

We hope we will buy you three seconds. Three seconds to think. To pause. To breathe.

Three seconds to consider.

Consider the possibilities.
Consider the consequences.
Consider the lives that might be affected by a singular choice.

So, all this time. All this discussion. All this investment. If it buys three seconds, in just one life, it will be worth it.

Team Project

Expression of ideas, change, and adaptability. The above display is the product of a 7-week process. In the end, we decided to keep the display generic so that it can be used to bring awareness to the multiple or single topics of distracted, drowsy, and alcohol-impaired driving.

Complexity

We discussed the trend toward digital displays. If we added a motion graphic or video would this bring a dimension to the table display that would increase interest and appeal?

We experimented with a table layout that included a foldout visual, laptop, monitor, and T-shirts. To keep the display portable, we decided to limit the elements to a printed foldout, 1-2 signature/message items, and the T-shirt samples.

Each display viewer that wishes to receive one of the T-shirts will be asked to fill out a short feedback form about display design, T-shirt design, and traffic safety messages.

Materials and Process

While our group had great display ideas, budget and supplies quickly became a consideration. We looked at what we had available to us at no cost, what we could purchase for a few dollars, and what design elements to spend the most dollars on to "draw" in the audience.

Display Planning

Initially, we worked individually to create some core concepts for the display. However, we worked as a group to elaborate on the core ideas by creating sketches, small models, and other visuals. While the group did create some great ideas for the display individually, it was beneficial for everyone to talk through the concepts and make improvements or eliminations as a group. Sometimes when we were at a standstill, one person would take the lead and make an executive decision to get us on track again.

Message Promotion

Our design team goal is to get students interested and involved in the importance of transportation safety with the hope that they share the information with others. We decided to create a unique display with concise messages that will encourage our peers to think about safety when driving, riding, and walking.

You Lost the Game

This design illustrates the awake, alert, and sober message by placing words and phrases in a grid. This is a twist on "the game." If people are too tired, constantly distracted by technology, or have been drinking and think about driving under those conditions, they've lost the game. It's a time for awake, alert, and sober friends to take the keys and determine a safe ride home.

Seeing Double? Seize the Keys.

The design concept of "Seeing Double? Seize the Keys" brings attention to alcohol-impaired driving. The image on the T-shirt front of a blurry eye chart relates to what an alcohol-impaired person might see. The text on the T-shirt back "Seize the Keys" is the main message which promotes taking away a friend's keys after they have been drinking.

Less Texting. More Driving.

As more people use electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle, this message encourages a shift in behavior to put away the cell phone and focus on the road.

Outside the Car

The "think outside the car" message reminds drivers to be aware of their surroundings and watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles. The goal is to encourage drivers to stay focused on the road by driving awake, driving alert, and driving sober.

Choices

The T-shirt sketches were critiqued, design elements placed in grids, and graphics sized according to guidelines determined earlier in the project. T-shirt colors were chosen based on perceived audience preferences.

Shifting Gears

AWAKE.  ALERT.  SOBER.

These words symbolize a shift in driving practices as the Get A Grip Program works to bring attention to drowsy, distracted, and alcohol-impaired driving.

Creativity and Collaboration

The summer 2011 project is about brainstorming and learning how to collaborate as a group. As designers, we are never at a loss for ideas. We began the design phase with a collection of phrases/slogans that relate to traffic safety that were inspired by our research. Over the last two days we developed 70 phrases. Through the process of elimination and discussion, we narrowed down the choices to four slogans. The weekend task is for each team member to generate at least three sketches for each slogan.

Caught Taking a Nap

This play on words and graphics is a wake-up call to anyone who has ever operated a vehicle while feeling drowsy! According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2011 Sleep in America® poll, 50% of 19-29 year olds surveyed said they drove while drowsy at least once in the past month. About one in ten, (12%) say they drive drowsy once or twice a week.

Iowa Data

• During 2000-2009, over 4,600 16-24 year olds were seriously injured in Iowa traffic crashes.
• Iowa currently averages over 500 traffic-related pedestrian injuries each year.
• Over 450 bicyclists are injured annually as a result of Iowa traffic crashes.
• Drivers age 16-24 typically represent over 30% of all Iowa drinking/impaired drivers in fatal and serious injury crashes. 
• Iowa data shows that since 2001, a total of 5,129 motor vehicle crashes involved the use of cellular telephones by one or more operators.

Iowa GTSB Young Driver Fact Sheet - Feb 2010 pdf

Iowa GTSB Pedestrian/Bicycle Fact Sheet - Feb 2010 pdf

Iowa GTSB Distracted Driving Fact Sheet - Jun 2010 pdf

Research Data

Distracted Driving
Using a cell phone while driving, whether it's hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08. (source: distraction.gov stats )

Drowsy Driving
Studies show that being awake for more than 20 hours results in an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of .08. (source: drowsydriving.org pdf)

Keep Moving

Today, college-aged students face enormous pressure to do well in school, find a job to make a living, keep up with social commitments, and countless other activities. As a result, traffic safety doesn't seem to be a top priority, despite how important it is. We are used to being on the go and finding ways to keep going that sometimes pushes us past our limits. We may ride when it's convenient, drive when we shouldn't, and  walk without focus.

The Drive

In Iowa we do a lot of driving. Cell phones, texting, and music are a few distractions that we face daily. With more people on the road than ever before, we as drivers must stay alert to what is going on around us. This is hard for many people as cars come equipped with dash distractions.

As college students we often feel overworked and stressed. This becomes an issue when we hit the road. To stay focused a goal could be to get at least 7 hours of rest a night to keep from driving drowsy.

Another issue college students face is knowing when they shouldn't be driving home after a night out with friends. With other transportation choices, such as a taxi, bus or designated driver, why would you risk driving drunk?