June 30, 2005

For more information contact:
Scott Falb
scott.falb@dot.iowa.gov
515-237-3154
Or Mark Bortle
mark.bortle@dot.iowa.gov
515-239-1587

Sober and cautious drivers wanted this July 4 th holiday

AMES, Iowa – Those long holiday weekends like the upcoming celebration of July 4 th are typically very deadly on Iowa highways. Throw in the dangers inherent with roadway work zones, and the possibility of deadly crashes increase.  

One of the most important messages for those celebrating the birth of our nation – don't drink and drive. Traditionally the July 4 th holiday has the highest number of traffic fatalities and more alcohol-related highway deaths than any other holiday period tracked by the Iowa Department of Transportation. The 10-year average (1995-2004) fatality rate for the July 4 th holiday is just less than six (5.7), with just more than two (2.2) of those fatalities being alcohol-related. The next deadliest holiday, Labor Day, shows a 10-year average of 5.4 deaths with 1.3 being alcohol-related.

While concerns with drinking and driving are a major safety issue this holiday weekend, the continuation of work zones is something to keep in mind, as well. The Iowa Department of Transportation will, through this construction season that runs until approximately Thanksgiving, have several hundred road construction work zones, as well as thousands of more temporary work zones for maintenance activities. Add to that the work zones on county roads and city streets, and you are almost guaranteed to encounter one or more work zones in your travels this weekend and throughout the rest of the road work season. 

Major work is scheduled throughout the state, including:

•  I-235 in Des Moines ;

•  I-80 in Pottawattamie County with head-to-head traffic in the eastbound lanes (work in the westbound lanes) from Exit 24 (Pottawattamie County Road M-16 interchange at milepost 35.1) to exit 40 (U.S. 59 interchange at milepost 39.3).

•  Iowa 60 in northwest Iowa ; and

•  U.S. 34 and U.S. 218 in southeast Iowa .

Being well informed about where major work zones are located can assist you in planning a safer trip. On the Internet, go to 511ia.org to see a map and find details of work being conducted on the route you plan to travel. You can also call 511 from most telephones to get the same information. For work zone delays throughout the U.S. , outside Iowa , visit the Federal Highway Administration's National Traffic and Road Closure Information Web site, www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm .

Once you come upon a work zone, Iowa DOT officials offer these tips:

•  SLOW DOWN . Speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes.

•  Keep a SAFE DISTANCE . Don't tailgate. The most common crash in a highway work zone is the rear end collision.

•  Wear your SEAT BELT . In Iowa law enforcement reports show 5,648 lives have been saved since Iowa 's seat belt law took effect July 1, 1986. Just this year (through July 27) 190 people have already been spared death or serious injury by wearing seat belts. National statistics from all vehicle crashes between 1975 and 2000 show safety belts prevented 135,000 fatalities and 3.8 million injuries, saving $585 billion in medical and other costs. If all vehicle occupants had used safety belts during that period, nearly 315,000 deaths and 5.2 million injuries could have been prevented — and $913 billion in costs saved. [NHTSA, Economic Impact of Crashes, 2002]

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(Contacts: Scott Falb, Office of Driver Services at 515-237-3154 or Mark Bortle, DOT work zone safety coordinator at 515-239-1587)