By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

All of us see these dangerous occurrences on the roads we drive – even some of our closest family members and friends are guilty of it – and it needs to stop. Driving distracted is selfish but its consequences go far beyond the distracted driver, resulting in thousands of crashes and dozens of entirely preventable fatalities every year in Arizona.We all know it’s not a good idea to text and drive. Or fiddle with a navigation system for too long or doing anything else from the driver’s seat that takes away our attention from driving.

Gov. Doug Ducey has proclaimed Jan. 22-28 Distracted Driving Awareness Week, making this a good time to remind people that safer roads are, literally, in their hands. Here are some things we can all do to keep drivers’ eyes on the road and not their phones:

• If you know someone is driving, don’t text them.
• If your smartphone has the capability, engage the “do not disturb while driving” feature.
• Parents, set an example for kids and don’t reach for the phone when driving.
• In addition to smartphones, keep your hand free of food, drinks, makeup, electric shavers, toothbrushes (we’ve all seen that one guy, right?) and anything else that pulls your attention from driving.

Did you know that taking five seconds to send or read a text, while driving 55 mph, is like traveling the length of a football field with your eyes closed? A lot can happen in that span. Please, that text can wait.

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

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

There’s never a good time to drink and drive. But playing the I-just-had-two-drinks-and-I’m-OK-to-make-home-game during a festive holiday like New Year’s Eve is plain stupid. State, county and local law enforcement agencies will be out in force looking for impaired drivers and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is supporting DUI patrols statewide.

The alternatives to driving drunk are endless: designate a driver, call a cab or ride service, take light rail, call AAA's Tipsy Tow, or sleep it off at a friend’s house, to name a few options.

Not only can driving drunk kill – last year, alcohol was a factor in three fatal crashes during the New Year’s holiday – it can be costly, too. The Arizona Department of Public Safety lays out the penalties for a DUI.

In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, overhead message boards will remind drivers to stay sober behind the wheel. Enjoy ringing in the new year, but do it safely.

As we wrap up the year, we’re taking a look back at the overhead message boards we posted throughout 2017. Here’s a sample of those signs and your chance to tell us which one was your favorite. Swipe right for the signs you prefer and left for the ones you don’t.

While you’ve been shopping for the holiday and enjoying time with the family, ADOT elves have been posting holiday safety messages on electronic boards across the state. Let us know which signs were “hot” or “cold” by swiping right for those signs you like and left for those that leave you “cold.”

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

Unless you’re taking the reins of a magical flying sleigh with nine reindeer, there’s no need to speed this weekend. Slow down, obey speed limits and secure your spot on Santa’s Nice List.

As you travel Arizona’s highways in the days leading up to Christmas, you’ll see safe-driving holiday-themed reminders on our overhead signs to slow down and buckle up. The first message riffs on the popular movie, “A Christmas Story.”

Before hitting the highways, download the ADOT Alerts app – it’s free for iOS and Android devices – so you’ll know if highways near you are affected by a major, unplanned event, like a crash-related closure or severe weather.

And here’s an early Christmas gift from all of us at ADOT: No highway closures are scheduled during the Christmas and New Year’s weekends.

By Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" premieres today, and many driving to the theater will see the latest installment of related safety messages on our overhead highway signs.

Many love seeing these messages. Some don't. Either way, they're always talked about. And that's what we want – messages that kick off conversations about safe driving.

This isn't the first time we've linked the popular movies to highway safety. Last year, ADOT offered Star Wars-related messages calling attention to the dangers of distracted driving.

Join the rebellion against distracted driving

If you're a Star Wars superfan, you'll want to make sure you check out the first Star Wars message we posted a couple of years ago.

Whether you're headed to see the movie or not, we hope you'll follow the way of the Jedi and stay focused on getting there safely.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

Arizona’s highways will be filled with Thanksgiving holiday travelers this week. Because we want everyone to reach their destinations safely, we're encouraging safe driving through unconventional safety messages on overhead signs.

On Wednesday, “Sober Driver? Dilly! Dilly!” appeared on a selection of overhead signs statewide. The message is a play on a popular meme. Three additional Thanksgiving-related safety messages will appear on signs through Sunday.

Two years ago, on the day before Thanksgiving, we displayed our first quirky safety message. Overhead signs around the state reminded Arizonans that drinking and driving go together like peas and guac. That went viral, and we’ve been picking opportunities to deliver similar messages ever since.

Our safety messages frequently reference pop culture, local events and holidays because those things are front-of-mind for many people. We want to make a connection between people’s interests, whether it’s a U2 concert or a football game or the MLB playoffs, and safe driving. We hope this approach and these unconventional safety messages resonate and prompt conversations among drivers, both in person and via social media, and change driver behavior because speeding, reckless driving and impairment are among the leading factors in fatal crashes.

By Doug Nintzel / ADOT Communications

It rises like a spooky apparition with freeway fangs whenever Halloween occurs on a weekday.

We’re talking about the Halloween afternoon rush hour, when too many mummies, daddies and potential party animals head for the highways at nearly the same time. Their ghoul – I mean, goal – is getting home in time to walk their neighborhoods with little goblins or to get in costume for a Halloween party.

Avoiding a grave situation on the afternoon-evening trip home starts with planning ahead and treating yourself to these Halloween commuting tricks:

• Unless your ride home is a flying broomstick, carve out an earlier start toward Elm Street. Leaving by 3 o'clock may beat the witching hour, which generally is from 4 o'clock on.
• Pack some patience along with that last-minute bag of candy. You'll get there. Aggressive driving puts you and other drivers in danger, and a crash can make the trip home longer for everyone.
• Keep a sharp eye out for little skeletons and princesses, keeping in mind that they may not be paying close attention. Spooked pets could be running around too. And note that the setting sun makes it difficult to see apparitions in the road.

Last but without a doubt not least: a few words about spirits, as in the kind Halloween revelers may be consuming. Use a designated driver, a car service or some other means of getting home safely. Make no bones about it: Taking the keys from potential drunk drivers and never driving while impaired can make this Halloween less scary in a good way.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

It’s no secret that ADOT uses overhead signs to spread safety messages to motorists in Arizona. Some messages appear briefly and never resurface – these are usually related to one-time events, like concerts – and others become part of a regular rotation.

On Saturday, as part of “Move Over” Awareness Day, this recurring message will appear on overhead signs statewide:

In addition to displaying this safety message on about 100 overhead signs statewide, the Arizona Professional Towing & Recovery Association is promoting “Move Over” Awareness Day with a tow truck parade and family-friendly event on Saturday.

Arizona’s “Move Over” law requires motorists to mover over one lane – or slow down if it is not safe to change lanes – when driving by any vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the side of a road or highway. Vehicles with flashing lights includes first responders, ADOT trucks, passenger cars with emergency flashers and tow trucks.

Tow truck operators are exposed daily to the dangers of working in and alongside traffic. Nationally, one tow truck operator is killed every six days. First responders and highway workers are also at risk. Drivers can save lives, including their own, by paying attention and giving responders room to do their jobs.

By Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications

One of the one of the best-selling musical acts in history with more than 20 Grammys, played Glendale on Tuesday night. Because of U2's international recognition, ADOT played off of the band's lyrics to promote highway safety and even managed to catch the attention of the band!

The post above from U2's Instagram account received more than 58,000 likes. Our sign reminding drivers to use their blinkers was also featured on U2's official Facebook page.

We received plenty of feedback on the signs.

While we're glad you enjoyed the signs, we also hope you remember the underlying safety message when you're behind the wheel. As our last Crash Facts report showed, Arizona motor vehicle crash deaths rose last year, and the leading factors – speeding, impairment and seat belt use – are all under our control.

We hope the messages you see on the highway change driver behavior by prompting conversations in homes, the workplace and elsewhere. The keys to safety are in your hands, even where the streets have no name.