Individual or Group Work?

Spring 2012 focus:

• collaborate on group activities/projects
• build individual and group capacities by creating content
• share knowledge gained by connecting with an audience in ways that will inform and shape attitudes and behavior

Will we work best as a group or will our individual processes and products rise above group productivity?

Ice and Snow

Iowa winter travel information.
Source: Iowa DOT

Roundabouts

From twitter.com/driveride: helpful roundabout information.
Source: Iowa DOT

Disconnect & Drive

Thank you to all that attended the first Disconnect & Drive - smartphones and technology event!

Forget the Feeds, Watch your Speed

Backseat Your Technology

Drive First, Technology Later

Eyes on the Road, Not your Phone

Stay Connected with the Road

twitter.com/driveride

Iowa averages 500 traffic-related pedestrian injuries each year.

In 2009, there were 435 pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes involving one or more pedestrians with 434 injured.

Mannequins stand up for safety - Chicago

Forget the Feeds, Watch your Speed

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.