Weathering the Storm: Preparing for Travel Conditions During Arizona's Monsoon Season
Weathering the Storm: Preparing for Travel Conditions During Arizona's Monsoon Season
Between the hot temperatures, dust storms and monsoon, Arizona’s summer weather creates the perfect storm for dangerous driving conditions each year (pun intended).
Since it's Monsoon Awareness Week, which takes place June 11-17 this year, here are some tips and information for traveling during monsoon season:
The No. 1 safest thing to do when there are adverse weather conditions is always to delay travel until the storm has passed.
If you do have to travel, NEVER drive into a flooded area or drive around “Road Closed” signs. Along with putting your own safety at risk, you also risk being cited under Arizona’s Stupid Motorist law, which makes you liable for the cost of any emergency response needed to rescue you, and are putting emergency responders at risk, too.
Along with lightning and sudden, intense downpours, monsoon season also brings strong winds and the possibility of haboobs, or dust storms, which create hazardous driving conditions.
In a dust storm, visibility can drop to zero in an instant. Do not drive into a dust storm. Ever. No matter where you are. However, if you encounter a dust storm and don't have time to exit the highway, remember to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive”:
- Immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
- Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway -- do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
- Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane. Look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
- Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers. You do not want other vehicles approaching from behind to use your lights as a guide, possibly crashing into your parked vehicle.
- Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
- Stay in the vehicle with your seat belts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
- Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.
We also have a handy PDF here that you can screenshot or print out to keep in your glove box, just in case you ever find yourself in a dust storm (also available in Español).
Something to watch out for during any rainstorm is the possibility of hydroplaning, which is when your car drifts due to a thin layer of water between your tires and the asphalt. Although it might be your first instinct, do NOT brake suddenly. Instead, ease your foot off the gas until you regain traction and gently turn your steering wheel in the direction you are sliding.
These may seem like common sense, but good reminders for all year are to buckle up, put down your phone and do not drive impaired — that includes driving drowsy! Always get a good night's sleep before a trip.
Find more information, safety driving tips and resources at PullAsideStayAlive.org and azdot.gov/Monsoon. And, of course, you can always find the latest travel conditions, closures, restrictions, alternate routes and more at az511.gov or the AZ511 app.