Et cetera : What Drives You?

Do you have a pet peeve that you just wish other drivers would stop doing? Many times these little irritations can cause serious problems on the road. Tell us what's bugging you (but keep it clean) in three lines of 18 characters or less

Roadside Chat uses the wide network of dynamic message boards on state highways to display conversation-starting safety messages and the current highway fatality count.

This is your program! The success of the program relies on message suggestions from you. Have something to say? Submit your own message for consideration using the form on this page. If we use your message, we will be sure to contact you and acknowledge you by using your first name, last initial, and city when we promote the message.

All messages must be related to highway safety and try to focus messages on the four specific areas where drivers can make the most difference in bringing down the number of fatalities: buckle up, slow down and drive chill, drive sober, and pay attention.

The messages are a mixture of:

• Thought-provoking statements
  • Get your head out of your apps
  • Kids drive like their parents
  • Not buckled? What's holding you back?
  • What would they do without you? Drive safely
• Holiday messages
  • Ho Ho Ho, buckle up and go
  • Halloween is near. Don't be a crash test dummy
  • Buckling up can save your giblets
• References to popular events that resonate with a large audience
  • Road rage, let the Wookie win
  • Not buckled, you're killing me Smalls
  • Don't press your luck, no whammies
  • Is this heaven? No it's Iowa. Drive safely

All the messages are followed by a "back story" explaining messages on the What Drives You Iowa blog, What Drives You Iowa Facebook and Twitter feeds. The goal of each week's message and story is to start conversations related to safe driving behavior.

The program, which originally ran on Mondays, was launched as Message Mondays on Aug. 5, 2013. It was created to help drive awareness of the number of fatalities that occur on Iowa's roadways and help start conversations around safe driving behavior. The program moved to Fridays on July 2, 2021, to help reach travelers near the highest fatal crash days of the week (Friday is the second, Saturday the first, and Sunday is the third). In addition, posting messages on Friday reaches both weekday commuter traffic, as well as travelers who may be heading out of town for weekend activities.