By Dallas Hammit / ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation

While no one can control Arizona’s soaring summertime temperatures, each of us can take precautions to help ensure we’ll stay safe in the extreme heat.

Before you travel, it is important that you, your passengers and your vehicle are prepared for the trip ahead. It’s also wise to plan for the unexpected because you never know when a crash on a highway could cause a long traffic backup or even a vehicle breakdown could have you stranded for hours.

I know many drivers pack an emergency kit during the winter months. When they’re headed into snowy territory, they make sure to include gloves, blankets, ice scrapers and a bag of sand in case their vehicle gets stuck in the snow. A summer driving kit is just as vital and I would encourage you to pack one and keep it in your vehicle. Be sure it contains things like:

• extra water – enough for the driver, passengers and pets. You may also want to consider taking a cooler to keep extra drinking water cold.
• a fully charged cell phone and phone charger.
• an umbrella for shade.
• hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and loose-fitting cotton clothing to provide protection from sunburn.
• a first-aid kit and any necessary prescribed medication(s) and pain relievers.
• healthy snacks and a good road map that can provide possible alternate routes.
• safety gear, including a flashlight with extra batteries, safety flares, extra radiator water, a travel tool kit and battery cables.

There’s another item you might want to include and it’s one that most drivers might not think to carry – a reflective vest. It’s a good idea to have one and it can help ensure you are seen by other motorists if you are ever standing on the side of the road because of a breakdown or crash. I recently visited Germany and learned there is actually a law in place requiring all vehicles to have a reflective vest on board. Drivers there must wear that vest when they exit their vehicle and can face a fine if they don’t have one.

Please visit ADOT’s extreme heat web page for more information and tips. There you’ll discover ways to prep your vehicle for a trip in the heat, including:

• Fill your fuel tank and try to keep it at three-quarters full. Running out of gas in a remote location is dangerous in extreme heat
• Heat can take a toll on a vehicle’s battery. Consider having yours checked, especially if it’s more than three years old
• Check engine coolant levels and add coolant if necessary. Never remove your vehicle’s radiator cap when the engine is hot
• Check engine belts and fluids (motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid and power-steering fluid)
• Tire condition is important to monitor. Traveling with under- or overinflated tires on hot pavement can lead to a blowout. Make sure your tire pressure is at the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level. Remember to check the spare tire, too
• You’ll also want to check your windshield wiper blades and replace them if necessary, so they’ll work if you encounter monsoon weather
• Make sure your vehicle’s air conditioning system is functioning properly
• Before you hit the road, you can visit az511.gov or dial 511 for updated road and weather conditions

As always, I ask that you not only review these safety recommendations yourself, but share and discuss them with your loved ones – it could make a difference.

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
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation

There are several reasons parents and guardians should help their teenagers establish safe driving habits – one of the best is that it can make a real, lasting difference.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “self-reported surveys show that teens whose parents impose driving restrictions and set good examples typically engage in less risky driving and are involved in fewer crashes.”

What we say and do matters, which is why I’m encouraging you to make time to talk with your teenagers about their driving behaviors to help guide them to become safer motorists.

Not sure how to start the conversation? There are a number of online resources designed to steer parents in a good direction. One of those sites comes from the NHTSA and is aimed at parents who want to set good ground rules for their teen drivers.

On the NHTSA site, you’ll also find information on the “5 to Drive” campaign, which addresses the five most dangerous and deadly behaviors for teen drivers, including alcohol use, texting, speeding, failure to use seatbelts and riding with extra teen passengers.

Of course, setting a positive example for any young future drivers is so important. We can all do our part by buckling up, obeying the speed limit and putting down the cell phone or mobile device while driving.

By Dallas Hammit
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation

Just about four years ago, an important change was made to Arizona’s Move Over law.

Until that time, the law had required motorists to move over a lane when driving by an emergency services vehicle that was on the side of a road or highway. When amended in 2011, the law was updated to include those same precautions for ANY stationary vehicle with flashing lights – that includes tow-truck drivers, emergency personnel, ADOT employees, stranded motorists or anyone else in a vehicle on the side of the road.

Even though the law has been in place for some time now, I’m sure many of you have noticed drivers who still don’t obey the rule, which is why I’m bringing up the topic today with the hope that all of us can set the example by Moving Over. I also encourage you to share the Move Over message with family and friends, who might not be aware of the law.

Here are a couple of things to know about Arizona’s Move Over law:

• When approaching a stationary vehicle that is giving a signal or displaying warning (hazard) lights, you’ll need to proceed with caution and, if it is safe to do so, move over one lane away from the stationary vehicle.
• Of course, it’s not always possible to safely move over. If traffic conditions prevent you from moving over, or if a second lane does not exist, the Move Over law requires drivers to proceed with caution and reduce the speed of their vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions.

The Move Over law is important to us at ADOT — it is designed to protect all drivers and those of us who work on or next to our roads. You can find more information on the law, by visiting ADOT’s Move Over AZ website.