Iowa’s Safety Circuit Rider program presents transportation safety-related workshops to local governments and other groups and offers suggestions for improving roadway safety.

The Safety Circuit Rider provides workshops on work zone safety, MUTCD signing, retroreflectivity, roadside safety, and pavement markings. Many of these workshops are given anywhere local agencies have space—in meeting rooms, shops, or garages. Additionally, the Safety Circuit Rider coordinates the road safety assessment (RSA) efforts in Iowa, which includes a proactive review of roadway sites (i.e., an intersection or segment) to identify improvements that can be made to address potential safety issues. To schedule an RSA, contact David Veneziano at 515-294-5480 or dvenez@iastate.edu.

Safety Workshops Offered Year-Round

Signs and Pavement Markings: This workshop focuses on MUTCD requirements to help local agencies stay current. Recommendations for good practice techniques are also included. This workshop is available to local Iowa agencies on request. Learn more.

Flagger and Work Zone Training: By providing flagger training, a transportation agency helps enhance employee skills and helps protect from potential liability claims. This workshop is available to local Iowa agencies on request.

Work Zone Safety Workshop: This workshop has been developed to provide training to local agencies, utilities, and contractors in basic design, installation, and maintenance of temporary traffic control for construction and maintenance activities on streets and roads in Iowa. This workshop is available to local Iowa agencies on request. Learn more.

Road Safety Assessments

The Safety Circuit Rider facilitates FREE Roadway Safety Assessments (RSAs) to local agencies by request. RSAs are a review of the safety performance and features of a roadway site or corridor by a multidisciplinary team to identify potential improvements and strategies that might be considered. The end product of the safety assessment is a memorandum of findings and suggested improvements/strategies that can be implemented.  The document can also be used as a support document when applying for safety improvement funds, such as TSIP (Traffic Safety Improvement Program).  RSAs have been conducted for counties and cities throughout the state and are a free service supported by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) Traffic and Safety Bureau and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB).  Call or Email David Veneziano at 515-294-5480 / dvenez@iastate.edu for more information or to get the assessment scheduling process started.

Equipment Loan Program

The Safety Circuit Rider manages Iowa LTAP’s FREE equipment loan program. This program offers various pieces of equipment to local agencies for free use to assist in managing aspects of roadway signing and infrastructure safety. Agencies have access to the equipment for a two-week to one-month period on a first come, first served basis. The equipment available for loan to local agencies includes one RoadVista sign retroreflectometer (Model 993), two Rieker digital ball banks (RDI digital inclinometers), two trailer-mounted speed feedback signs (SafePace), and a wood piling test set. Learn more and request a loan.