Any driver who takes Interstate 380 can tell you that it’s dangerous. For drivers traveling between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, there is the other option of taking Highway 965.
This alternative is unfortunately substantially slower than the interstate.
I ultimately had to make the choice as many people do: Should I risk my safety for a quicker drive? No, I shouldn’t, and neither should you.
On Oct. 21, I bore witness to the aftermath of a gnarly accident. Steel was so terribly crushed that it looked like tinfoil, and fluids from multiple cars trailed along the passing lane, which led to more vehicles that were completely totaled. It was notable not only for the carnage but for the impact on traffic as well.
Students around me mentioned that traffic was backed up from the Cedar Rapids exit to North Liberty. I was lucky enough to have missed the accident by a few car lengths, meaning I avoided it by just a few minutes.
This event inspired me to do my own research. I wanted to keep my research unbiased while showing that both have their benefits. I timed the lengths of the drives, crunched the numbers and weighed the risks.
From Wright Brothers Boulevard in Cedar Rapids to the Coral Ridge Mall exit in Coralville, the grand total of time saved was 10 minutes on average.
That is the reason why most people would ultimately choose to risk their lives: 10 minutes.
The fact of the matter is that 10 minutes is not worth your life. Wake up a little earlier, or drink a second coffee until you are used to the time difference.
Be a little late if you are running behind. Just don’t risk it on the interstate. You are worth more than that. Sarah Mangold, Communiqué advisor, had a poignant and succinct solution for this dilemma: “Arrive alive,” and I could not agree more.
Therefore, I ask all my Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty drivers: Arrive alive: Take 965.
Categories: Opinion
