From the Director: Don’t let dust get in your eyes

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

To paraphrase a popular song from 1973 by The Platters, don’t let dust get in your eyes. It is that time of year when we Arizonans brace for our monsoon storms. These storms bring awesome lightning shows, but also winds that can kick up dust from the desert floor and blanket an area so thick, you can’t see in front of you. I would like to remind everyone, residents and visitors, that it is incredibly dangerous to drive into a dust storm.

At ADOT, we have photos and videos showing the gritty and grisly aftermath of collisions that occurred in dust storms. Our award-winning safety campaign, “Pull Aside, Stay Alive,” reminds motorists how they can stay safe if they get caught in a dust storm. The most important thing: Never drive into a dust storm.

I would also encourage you to share these important safety tips with family and friends who are planning to visit our great state this summer. You can also share our FocusOnDriving.com website for other helpful driving tips that will ensure your family and friends stay safe on our roadways.

Whether you like listening to “Dust in the Wind” by the band Kansas or “Sandstorm” by Darude, it’s important to be prepared and to drive safely this summer and avoid driving through dust storms. You can even stream the Dust Storm Playlist we created on Spotify as you travel this summer.

This post originally appeared on ADOT Director John Halikowski's
LinkedIn page. He has led the agency since 2009.