With hurricane remnants entering state, slow down for safety

PHOENIX – With the remnants of Hurricane Rosa bringing a rainy forecast to Arizona this week, motorists should slow down, avoid tailgating and sudden braking, and expect the unexpected.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has safety tips available at azdot.gov/safety (follow the Weather link). Among them:

• Allow extra time to reach your destination safely; in heavy rain, consider delaying travel.
• Create a space cushion by reducing your speed and maintaining a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
• Avoid sudden braking, which can cause you to slide on the wet pavement. To slow down, take your foot off the gas pedal and brake slowly.
• Avoid areas where water is pooling in travel lanes; if possible, use center lanes and drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.
• Stay alert for rocks knocked onto roadways by storm runoff on slopes.
• Before you drive, inspect your windshield wipers, and replace them if necessary.
• Turn on your headlights while driving.
• Be cautious of hydroplaning. This occurs when a thin layer of water accumulates between your tires and the asphalt and your vehicle loses contact with the roadway. You might suddenly feel your vehicle sliding or drifting because you’ve lost traction. If you feel you are hydroplaning, ease your foot off the gas pedal until you regain traction. Do not brake suddenly. If you are sliding or drifting, gently turn your steering wheel in the direction of your slide.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.