March 5, 2010

Get A Grip: Our Drive-Ride Story

Media Teams
We are looking for creative minds. This does not mean you have to know how to draw, paint, etc. We need IDEAS. Your ideas, your voice.

The Drive-Ride Project is looking for volunteers to collaborate on media projects addressing driving, riding, and walking -- activities we do every day that affect how we move from place to place. What message would you listen to? We need YOU, our audience, to create for the audience.

It's a great way to contribute to positive, innovative campaigns to create awareness and educate others about alcohol and traffic safety issues.

Get A Grip College Team Drive-Ride Story - Road Signs

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March 4, 2010

Point and Click Road Trip!

We're inviting you to team up for a digital storytelling project using images, voice, or text through group posts on the Get A Grip 2010 blog. This operation will involve your friends, your memories, and what you have learned as you tell the story of driving and riding on Iowa roads.

Drive-Ride Guide
(message pens!)


road map details
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March 3, 2010

The Deer and the Astro Van

It was lightly snowing that Friday evening. A group of friends had gathered in the parking lot. Their basketball team had just upset the number one team in their district and was now off to state. Though the snow was settling to the ground like a white blanket, the teens decided to head out to their friend Ben's house to continue the celebration.
Ann hopped into the driver's seat with Mike to the right. Allie, Chris, and Jordan sat in back. No one was thinking about anything other than the game and how much fun it will be to go to state. Ann pumped up the music while texting Ben that they were on their way. Mike was being unhelpful because he had turned in his seat to show those in back the Cheeto he had shoved up his nose. They, of course, were laughing hysterically. Ann tried to get the situation under control; however, she didn't try too hard to avoid being a mood squisher. It was at that moment Chris opened a can of Coke. It exploded everywhere. Ann turned and yelled out angrily for him to clean up her parents' van. Mike turned to the front to look at the road. He yelled that there was a deer running out in front of them. It was too late. 

Ann veered to the right before remembering "don't veer for deer." Her van slid into the ditch roughly. Everyone tumbled out. They were all right, but shaken up by the experience. Chris called his parents for help.

Ann now knew that being a party pooper was a much better alternative than ending up in the ditch and putting her friends in danger. It was quite an eye-opening experience for the passengers as well. Now they understand how real the dangers of distracted driving are, and everyone also got a reminder about winter driving. 

When driving conditions are anything but normal, remember to use caution, slow down and pay  attention.

- Iowa ranks 4th in U.S. for likelihood of a specific vehicle striking a deer in the next 12 months (1 in 104, Sept 09)

Radio Iowa Post (Nov 09)

State Farm (Sept 09)
Likelihood of Deer-Vehicle Collision (map pdf) 
Increase in Deer-Vehicle Collisions (map pdf)

Don't Veer for Deer Brochure (2005 pdf)

Media Team: Safety Krew
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March 2, 2010

Running Distracted

Jackie was out on her morning run. She had her iPod playing her favorite running mix. The bike path ended at 5th Avenue so she jogged into the street and began running in the direction opposite the traffic on that side of the street. As she turned onto Park Place she looked down to change the song. Without knowing she drifted off near the middle of the road. Suddenly she heard a car horn and looked up to see a car swerve around her. She was shaken up and walked to the edge of the road to gather herself. The driver of the car that swerved stopped and got out to see if she was okay. He advised her that running with headphones can be dangerous when on the road. She agreed, thanking the driver for his alertness and for stopping to check on her.

Besides a distraction, running on the road with your iPod or MP3 player can decrease your ability to hear oncoming cars, cyclist shout outs, unleashed dogs, or other potential hazards. Save your iPod for the treadmill or community field track.

About.com: Running and Jogging
Road Runners Club of America: Running Safety Tips

Media Team: Safety Krew
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March 1, 2010

5 Strikes and a Sideswipe

Sally walked out the front door, talking on the phone to a friend. She got in her car, did a quick check behind her to see if anybody was there, and got on her way. She was already late for the party, so she started driving a little faster. Her friend was talking about something, but she began to tune her out when she heard her favorite song on the radio. She turned up the volume and started singing along. Her friend was getting upset, so Sally turned off the radio, but then got a text message. She told her friend "hold on a sec" and checked the message. Another friend wanted to know if she was coming to pick her up or not. So Sally texted her back, taking little quick glances to watch the road, telling her she was on her way. 

Sally got back on the phone, but then her purse fell over as she rounded a corner! She had to pick the stuff up or it would roll onto the driver's side and get stuck. "As long as I keep my eyes above the level of the dashboard, I'll be fine," she thought. "But, oh no! My chap stick is rolling away!" She peeked down to find it, and sideswiped a car in the oncoming lane of traffic.

Can you count how many things Sally did that distracted her from the task of driving? Of course, but how often do we practice it ourselves?
  • The greatest proportion of distracted drivers are in the under-20 age group.
  • Drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a crash when talking on a cell phone. Texting while driving increases the crash risk eight times.
  • When people talk on a phone and drive they develop a type of tunnel vision and do not notice cars and pedestrians in the outer limits of their sight.
  • Both handheld and hands-free devices contribute to the same level of cognitive distraction (awareness, judgment and perception).
  • In one simulator study comparing cell phone users and alcohol-impaired drivers, cell phone users had slower reaction times than drivers with a .08 BAC (pdf).
Studies have been conducted and statistics compiled by multiple organizations about the risks of distracted driving. Many have come to similar conclusions. A few sources are listed below:
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