It’s the season when umpires are calling baseball players from pee-wees to major leaguers into the batter’s box. And this weekend, many Iowans will make the drive to Omaha on I-80 to watch the best teams swing for the fences in the Men’s College World Series. Whether stepping up to the plate or into the driver’s seat, keep your eye on the ball and your head in the game.
Like batting, driving on interstates can be tricky. Speeds are fast, lanes are busy, drivers are often aggressive, and it’s easy to get hit by a bad pitch. Learning the rules of the road for safe driving can make your trip a home run:
- Planning: Collect all addresses and map your route ahead of time.
- Passing/Lane Changes: Stay in the right lane(s) and pass on the left when necessary. Check mirrors and blind spots before passing or changing lanes.
- Avoid distractions: Avoid texting, reading maps, eating, etc.
- Merging: Use the on-ramp to accelerate to the speed of traffic. Use turn signals and find a three to four-second gap in traffic to merge.
- Space Management: Maintain a safe following distance to allow for reaction time and avoid rear-end collisions.
- Speed Management: Be aware of speed limits, especially in urban and rural areas, and different states, and adjust your speed according to traffic and weather conditions.
- Weather Conditions: Know the potential for rain, snow, or fog and adjust your driving.
- Be Aware of Surroundings: Pay attention to other vehicles, road signs, and potential hazards.
In 2025, in Iowa, 112 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of six since last Friday. In Iowa in 2024, there were 355 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, visit the daily fatality report.