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The world is moving too fast now, and no place do we see this more than on our roads.
It's time to slow down and be more aware, as farmers are moving farm equipment, trying to get their crops harvested before the weather takes another turn.
But it's also the time of the year, when the wildlife are running, as their shelters and food are disappearing as farmers hit their fields.
It seems obvious that with fall, we should all be paying more attention to the roads and how the weather conditions impact not only people, like the farmers, but the animals that we share our world with.
The legislature recently increased speed limits on two lane highways to 60 mph, but there are areas where the county has reduced the speed limit slightly, such as on 210th St. north of Webster City.
There is a reason for this. It's called safety.
I was in the room when the Hamilton County Engineer, Ryan Weidemann, recommended lowering the speed limit in several areas north of Webster City. At first I was surprised, as throughout the state, speed limits were just raised.
But his reasons were sound. They looked at the distance from roads that were entering traffic, where there were hills, and he made recommendations that would allow drivers more time to react to other vehicles that suddenly appear at the top of the hill or around a curve. They looked at those curves and the visibility of vehicles coming down the road.
So then I thought about what those changes mean.
It gives both the drivers, the farmers and the animals a better chance to survive. It reduces the chances that a vehicle will need repairs or replacement.
It ensures that a farmer will make it to his destination, and his crop will help produce a food source.
It reduces the number of insurance claims that make our premiums rise.
And it reduces the number of animals lying dead in the road, that someone has to remove.
The roads don't belong to any one of us. The rules of the road are pretty simple. Be careful, be respectful, don't drive too fast, keep your hands on the wheel, and use hands free systems in your car if on the phone.
But even when all these things are done correctly, there will still be a day when there is an accident, between farmers, between vehicles, between a vehicle and a deer or a pheasant or a racoon.
Slowing down at this time of year and watching closely also gives all drivers a chance to appreciate the beauty of the fall season. It lasts such a short time, and the world around us is changing every day.
Too many times, we have had farmers severely hurt or killed when another driver becomes impatient and doesn't realize how slow that vehicle moves. We have young people helping with harvest, driving unwieldy equipment, trailers and tractors, just trying to help family and friends.
It's not easy for them to move quickly.
And too often, people are driving at outrageous speeds
Each day I hear the dispatchers reporting multiple drivers exceeding 100 mph, traveling along our Iowa roadways.
And I wonder how long those drivers will do this before they hit something that will do more than tear apart their car or truck.
There are some serious truths that we all need to consider when we drive so fast that we cannot respond to the changes in front of us.
The consequences are dire. Too many have died, too many have faced hardships, too many struggle with guilt and remorse. There are so many negative consequences that just didn't have to happen.
Farm accidents and run-ins with deer escaping their shelter seem to happen more often in the fall and the spring. Consider the costs before you get behind the wheel next time. And consider the options you might face by not paying attention.
Nothing is more precious than life.