By Dallas Hammit / ADOT State Engineer

Our plows, including some new ones that have just been added to the fleet, are prepped and in position. ADOT snowplow operators are ready to go, too – they train throughout the year to help keep the roads open when the snow starts to fall.

Yes, the agency is ready for any storm we face. The only variable we cannot control is the behavior of all the drivers on the road.

As I said last year, winter travel safety tips generally don’t change much year to year, but that doesn’t mean we can stop paying attention. All drivers benefit from a reminder of what to do when faced with winter conditions. We also should take the time to review our behaviors and adjust our driving habits if needed to ensure we’re operating our vehicles in the safest manner possible.

I’d like to encourage you to review these safety tips and share them with your loved ones:

• Slow Down and Leave Extra Room: Adjust your speed to conditions. Driving slower and leaving space between your vehicle and others when snow and ice are present can improve your ability to brake and prevent skids.
• Leave Prepared: Dress for cold weather, bring extra clothes and gloves, be sure your cellphone is charged, and pack food, water and necessary medications. Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition, starting with the battery, heater/defroster, wiper blades, wiper fluid and brakes.
• Pack an Emergency Kit: For starters, take blankets, a flashlight, an ice scraper, a small shovel, a container of sand for traction, a reflective vest and hazard lights or reflectors in case your vehicle becomes disabled.
• Beware of Black Ice: Black ice tends to form at night when melting snow freezes and is especially common on bridges.
• Stay Up to Date: Visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 to get the latest highway conditions, and pay attention to messages on overhead boards. ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) is an excellent source of information, as is ADOT’s free app that sends critical information directly to app users in affected areas. Find details at ADOTAlerts.com.

I also hope you’ll take a moment to check out azdot.gov/ KnowSnow, ADOT’s site for all things related to winter travel. There, you’ll find additional safety tips, videos and infographics.

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer and deputy director for transportation, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT State Engineer

Last month, I talked about how being prepared for summer weather can make all the difference. But besides high temperatures, monsoons and dust storms, there’s another summertime safety issue I want more drivers to be aware of...

When the temperatures heat up, motorists need to stay alert and be on the lookout for tire treads and other debris that can end up on the highways. Known sometimes as “gators,” the tire treads that wind up on the road after someone has a blowout can create a hazard for other drivers. The number of gators we all see on the road seems to increase in the hotter months.

You as a driver can actually help limit the chances of creating highway gators by properly maintaining your tires – that includes regularly checking your vehicle’s tire pressure to reduce the risk of blowouts.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 700 people die every year in tire-related crashes. There’s a lot we all can do to help drive that number down.

Published on the ADOT Blog last year, here are some tips from SaferCar.gov that will help keep your vehicle’s tires in shape:

• Inflate your tires according to the pressure specified in your vehicle’s manual or tire information label on the driver’s side door edge.
• Properly inflating tires improves fuel efficiency, providing as much as 11 cents more value per gallon.
• Follow your car’s maintenance guidelines and rotate tires as specified. Also, be sure they are balanced and aligned correctly for optimal performance.
• Check the tread on your tires. Tires should be replaced when tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch. Running out the clock on your tires can result in a blowout.
• Many newer vehicles have automated tire pressure monitoring systems. Typically, these alerts are sent when a tire is significantly deflated, making regular checks is a good idea. Keep a tire pressure gauge in your glove box.

Just remember that properly maintaining your tires can actually help to make them last longer – it’ll also save you money in the long run.

Most importantly though, the steps you take to maintain your tires will help protect you and other drivers on the road. For even more information about tire safety, visit NHTSA.gov/tires.

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer and deputy director for transportation, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT State Engineer

Summer is officially here, and in Arizona, the season brings with it many weather-related safety warnings to be aware of. As we all know, it’s not just about the heat — we also have monsoons and dust storms to contend with in the coming months.

Over the years, ADOT has strived to reach out to drivers with information on how to plan ahead and take precautions to stay safe.

There are many resources for motorists to learn from, all available on ADOT’s website. You’ll find extensive safety tips on everything from what to do if you find yourself in a dust storm to prepping your car for a road trip.

For convenience, I wanted to share some of those links with you in this message.

High temperatures: Even if your vehicle has air conditioning, you should always be ready for a potential breakdown or crash that could force you to spend an extended amount of time stopped on the road. Find tips on how to prepare at azdot.gov/extremeheat. For those of you who work outside, ADOT has some helpful pages related to heat stress and heat-related illness.

Monsoons: Drivers should always be prepared and, if necessary, be ready to wait out heavy rain, high winds and blowing dust. If you do find yourself on the road during a monsoon storm, you hopefully will remember the precautions available at azdot.gov/monsoon.

Dust storms: The No. 1 thing to remember about dust storms is to NOT drive into one — avoid these walls of dense, blowing dust by safely pulling off the road. If you encounter a dust storm or a dust channel, 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. Once you’re safely off the road, turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers — you don’t want other vehicles approaching from behind to use your lights as a guide, possibly crashing into your parked vehicle. Set your emergency brake, take your foot off the brake and stay in your vehicle with your seat belt buckled until the storm passes. Find additional safety tips and videos on PullAsideStayAlive.org.

Being well informed and having a plan ahead of time can make a big difference if you’re ever driving in extreme weather. I hope you’ll visit the online safety resources listed above and share the information with your family and friends.

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer and deputy director for transportation, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT State Engineer

I regularly use Driving Safety Home messages to share reminders about how we all can make safe driving a priority. But from time to time I also like to highlight some of the innovative actions ADOT is taking as an agency to improve the transportation system.

This month, I want to talk about what’s in the plans for the section of Interstate 17 that stretches from Anthem to Sunset Point.

As you may already know, we’ve been studying the corridor for a number of years and recently held our first public meeting to discuss the potential improvements.

With the help of funds from the Maricopa Association of Governments, we’re planning to add new lanes in areas between Anthem and Black Canyon City. The projects are currently scheduled for construction in the years 2021-22.

We’re also looking at adding “flex lanes” between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. These two flex lanes would be built parallel to existing I-17 southbound lanes – they’ll be separated from the roadway by a concrete barrier.

Once constructed, we’d be able to open the flex lanes to either northbound or southbound traffic depending on peak traffic direction. Access to the flex lanes would be controlled by a gate.

This gives us a solution that we believe will greatly relieve congestion and would allow us to offer drivers an alternative route if there’s a crash or closure on I-17. Right now, if there’s a closure, motorists have to wait on the freeway, which can lead to other problems, including the potential for secondary crashes and very real impacts to the motorists who are stuck on the freeway.

For now, we’re looking at ways to bring services (water and food) to waiting motorists when there’s an extended closure. We’ve also been more focused on Traffic Incident Management training in recent years (that helps us to clear crashes quicker) and we’ve started staging people and equipment at strategic locations during high-traffic holidays. By being proactive, we can respond to incidents faster.

As we move forward, I encourage you to learn more about the plans, and I hope you’ll share the information with your friends and family who regularly travel I-17. You can find details, including the link to a video simulation showing how the flex lanes will work, on ADOT’s website.

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer and deputy director for transportation, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT State Engineer

This is the final Driving Safety Home message of 2017, and as I look back over the past year, I am reminded of the many ways this agency has encouraged employees and the public to make safety a priority.

From a clever safety message contest at the start of the year to the widely attended Safety Stand Down Day earlier this fall, 2017 has been filled with campaigns and initiatives that have put an emphasis on safety both on the road and in the workplace.

As I do every year at this time, I encourage all of you to revisit the Driving Safety Home archives for ideas to consider when you’re making any New Year’s resolutions – hopefully, at least one of your goals includes a focus on safer driving. At this point, we have five years’ worth of messaging for you to consider. It’s hard to believe that the Driving Safety Home campaign has been in place for that long. The goal for the program has always been to increase awareness about transportation-safety issues and to ultimately motivate positive changes in driver behavior.

But before the New Year begins, let’s make sure that 2017 ends on a safe note.

As you and your loved ones travel to all the festivities that seem to take over the calendar during this time of year, be sure that you’re wearing your seat belt and avoiding all distractions while driving. And if you’re attending a holiday party or New Year’s Eve celebration, make sure you have a safe and sober ride home.

Of course, if you need additional safety tips this holiday season, there are plenty of places to find that information. Visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 to get the latest highway conditions before you get on the road. ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) is also an excellent source of information, as is ADOT’s new free app that sends critical information directly to app users in affected areas – find details at ADOTAlerts.com. And, if you’re headed into snowy conditions, be sure to check out azdot.gov/KnowSnow for information on how to prepare.

Finally, I'd like to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation

Winter travel safety tips generally don’t change much from year to year, but that doesn’t mean you can stop paying attention — all of us benefit from a yearly reminder.

The “Know Snow” advice issued annually by ADOT guides drivers on how to handle icy roads, where to find current traffic conditions and why being prepared is such a smart strategy. Unfortunately, every year we hear reports of motorists who did not heed the warnings or just didn’t know about them in the first place.

ADOT crews are always prepared for the winter weather that’s ahead and often are the ones who help out when a motorist gets stranded. While the work our snowplow drivers do is vital for keeping our roads drivable and safe all season, the decisions everyone else makes on the road are equally important.

That’s why I’m asking that you review these safety tips — even if you think you’re already a winter-driving expert:

• Slow Down and Leave Extra Room: Adjust your speed to conditions. Driving slower and leaving space between your vehicle and others when snow and ice are present can improve your ability to brake and prevent skids.
• Leave Prepared: Dress for cold weather, bring extra clothes and gloves, be sure your cellphone is charged, and pack food, water and necessary medications. Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition, starting with the battery, heater/defroster, wiper blades, wiper fluid and brakes.
• Pack an Emergency Kit: For starters, take blankets, a flashlight, an ice scraper, a small shovel, a container of sand for traction, a reflective vest and hazard lights or reflectors in case your vehicle becomes disabled.
• Beware of Black Ice: Black ice tends to form at night when melting snow freezes and is especially common on bridges.
• Stay Up to Date: Visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 to get the latest highway conditions, and pay attention to messages on overhead boards. ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) is an excellent source of information, as is ADOT’s new free app that sends critical information directly to app users in affected areas. Find details at ADOTAlerts.com. 

I also hope you’ll take a moment to check out azdot.gov/KnowSnow, ADOT’s site for all things related to winter travel. There, you’ll find safety tips, videos, infographics and more.

Finally, please share all of this information with your family and loved ones — even if you’ve already done so in previous years. As I said before, we all need the yearly reminder.

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation

It may be hard to believe, but the summer is starting to wind down. We’re entering into the time of year when students head back to school, the days get shorter and we all start to see more events going on the calendar as temperatures begin to cool.

It’s also when we begin to see more pedestrians and cyclists take to the streets, making now the perfect time to review and improve our habits when it comes to sharing the road.

Yes, I know I share this same message every year around this time, but it is something that’s worth repeating — especially since pedestrian involved crashes and fatalities spiked last year. The number of pedestrians killed rose to 197 in 2016 from 163 the year before and crashes increased by 16 percent, from 1,408 in 2015 to 1,637 last year.

Those numbers should tell all of us — motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists — that we need to pay attention, slow down and avoid distractions when traveling.

As someone who enjoys bicycling (I even bike to work at least once a week), I’ve seen firsthand some of the close calls that occur when everyone’s not paying attention to the road. Intersections pose a notable challenge because drivers aren’t always looking out for bicyclists or pedestrians.

Luckily, there are some great resources that focus on how to safely handle intersections, blind spots, crosswalks and everything in between. You can find those guides on ADOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program website at azbikeped.org. Look for “Sharing the Road with Pedestrians” and “Arizona Bicycling Street Smarts.” Both publications offer information on Arizona traffic laws and important safety tips.

And, as always, please share these resources with your friends and loved ones and take the opportunity to talk with them about making safe choices.

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation

ADOT works to plan, build and maintain the state’s transportation system — but we don’t just do it for motorists. We’re responsible for creating a system that accounts for the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians, too.

As drivers, we also need to remember that the roads aren’t always just for motorized vehicles. Likewise, when we’re bicycling or walking, it is critical for us to be attentive and careful of the vehicles we’re traveling near.

Sharing the road is an obligation we all have to each other.

If you’re looking to review the rules and improve your skills when it comes to sharing the road, ADOT has a great resource. It’s the ADOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program website, azbikeped.org.

There, you’ll find plenty of helpful information, including guides focused on safety.

Even if you’ve been to the site previously, I encourage you to check it out again. Just recently, it has been updated and completely redesigned, allowing users to more easily find what they’re looking for.

Sharing the Road with Peds

In the coming weeks and months, an updated “Sharing the Road with Pedestrians” guide will be published on the site, along with a brand new, interactive Cycle Arizona bicycle user map.

Besides providing educational resources like the website, ADOT also studies how pedestrians and bicyclists use the state system. Improvements based on safety are often made, including the installation of countdown pedestrian signals and the increased use of pedestrian hybrid beacons — both examples of traffic control devices that better assist pedestrians in crossing a street or highway.

As always, I hope you’ll think about your own habits and take the opportunity to talk with your loved ones about this topic. Encourage them to make safe decisions.

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation

ADOT crews are ready for what’s ahead this winter. In fact, they prepare year round for the snow and ice. The agency has 400 commercially licensed snowplow drivers and nearly 200 snowplows in its fleet.

While the work those snowplow drivers do is vital for keeping our roads drivable and safe all season, the decisions everyone else makes on the road are equally important.

Please take a moment to review the safety tips below and be sure to share with family and friends.

• Slow Down and Leave Extra Room: Adjust your speed to conditions. Driving slower and leaving space between your vehicle and others when snow and ice are present can improve your ability to brake and prevent skids.
• Leave Prepared: Dress for cold weather, bring extra clothes and gloves, be sure your cellphone is charged, and pack food, water and necessary medications. Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition, starting with the battery, heater/defroster, wiper blades, wiper fluid and brakes.
• Pack an Emergency Kit: For starters, take blankets, a flashlight, an ice scraper, a small shovel, a container of sand for traction and hazard lights or reflectors in case your vehicle becomes disabled.Beware of Black Ice: Black ice tends to form at night when melting snow freezes and is especially common on bridges.
• Stay Up to Date: Visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 to get the latest highway conditions, and pay attention to messages on overhead boards. ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) is an excellent source of information and answers about highway conditions.

Please find more winter driving information, including videos, infographics and blog posts at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation

It’s that time of year again – temperatures are beginning to cool, students have gone back to school and extra events are on schedule as we head toward the holidays. It’s also when we start seeing more pedestrians and cyclists take to the streets.

That makes now the perfect time for all of us to review and improve our habits when it comes to sharing the road.

According to ADOT’s Crash Facts Report, the number of pedestrians killed in Arizona crashes rose to 161 in 2015 from 155 the year before. In this state, 29 bicyclists died in crashes during 2015 and in total, there were 1,399 crashes involving pedestrians and 1,434 that involved bicycles.

The statistics show that all of us – motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists – need to take precautions and remember how vital it is to share the road with each other.

There are a number of resources online that’ll give you guidelines and safety tips for sharing the road safely and legally. Two good ones are both on ADOT’s website. “Sharing the Road with Pedestrians” and “Share the Road” each cover a number of different situations and show actions to help us avoid a collision.

While there’s not enough room in this message to cover every safety scenario, I do want to highlight one safety tip that, when followed, serves drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists: Pay attention and be aware of your surroundings.

All travelers are better off when drivers put down their cell phone and pay attention to the road. Using your phone for texting or talking while driving takes your focus off the job at hand, which is to safely operate your vehicle. Bicyclists and pedestrians also need to be aware of their surroundings – headphones and cell phones cause distractions and can reduce your ability to hear traffic.

As always, I hope you’ll think about your own habits and take the opportunity to talk with your loved ones – especially any students in your household – about this topic. Encourage them to make safe decisions.

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.