What we've been up to

a child being buckled into a car seat

Improving Child Passenger Safety on Iowa Roads

Monday, November 4, 2024
Iowa’s laws on child passenger restraint in motor vehicles does not meet current best practices developed by safety experts with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The Injury Prevention Research Center and TRIPS Lab recently published a policy brief describing child passenger restraint trends over the years in Iowa and the risks asscoiated with improper restraint.
The Iowa State House Chambers in Des Moines

Preventing Distracted Driving in Iowa: Hands-Free Laws

Monday, October 28, 2024
The Injury Prevention Research Center and TRIPS Lab partnered to publish a policy brief on distracted driving and hands-free driving laws in Iowa and across the United States. Current Iowa law allows the use of handheld phones for making calls and navigation (using GPS) but bans texting while driving. 30 states and D.C. have hands-free laws.
iCREATE researchers visit the Driving Safety Research Institute

iCREATE Researchers Convene in Iowa City

Friday, November 1, 2024
Researchers in the fields of injury and violence prevention from Romania, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia recently visited the University of Iowa. As part of mulit-year NIH-funded project, partners on the iCREATE project discussed strategies to advance their work and build upon a strong history of collaboration. The group toured various centers, labs, and institutes and spoke with faculty, staff, and students across several colleges.

Meet Cara

Dr. Cara Hamann, Director of the TRIPS Lab, is interested in the safety of bikes, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users. When she was a student, a simple piece of advice from a faculty mentor sparked an idea and set her on a path to public health. Learn more about Cara and her work here.
Yellow Bike