Don’t tailgate and don’t speed.

According to Arizona’s vehicle crash data, following those simple instructions will help keep you safe on the roads. That’s because rear-end crashes are, by far, the most common manner of vehicle collision. 

Of the 111,090 multi-vehicle crashes that occurred in 2019 in Arizona, nearly half, 47,936, were rear-end crashes, making it the most common manner of collision. The next highest? Left-turn crashes totaled 18,903. Head-on crashes were among the least common, accounting for only 1.8% of all crashes.

The best way to avoid causing a rear-end collision is to not speed and to leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Of course, obeying the speed limit and not tailgating are only two of many simple things motorists can do to keep themselves and others safer on roads. Not driving distracted, using turn signals and wearing a seat belt will help keep drivers safe, too.

Remember, if you’re involved in a collision on a highway, your vehicle is driveable and there are no serious injuries, the safest thing to do is move your vehicle to the shoulder where you can inspect it for damage and exchange information with other drivers. This is called “Quick Clearance” and provides a safer environment for you and crash responders, and keeps travel lanes clear for other vehicles, reducing the chance of a secondary collision.

Winter hasn’t officially started, but at ADOT, we know colder temperatures and icy conditions are on their way. We also know that our snowplow fleet is prepped and that our operators are trained and ready to go.

Our team is prepared, but we really need drivers to be ready, too...

Each year, I use this Driving Safety Home column to remind everyone that when you’re behind the wheel, you need to know how to handle your vehicle in snowy and icy conditions. As I’ve said previously, winter travel safety tips generally don’t change much from year to year, but that doesn’t mean we can become complacent.

So I’d like to encourage you to review the winter-driving safety tips on our Focus on Driving website. As always, be sure to share what you learn with your loved ones.

I also want to remind you about keeping your vehicle ready for winter trips and the importance of a winter emergency kit. Just like in the summertime, it’s crucial to be prepared and to expect the unexpected. You never know when a storm or a crash might create the need for an unplanned road closure that might last for hours. Drivers should be prepared.

Before you even head out on a trip, make sure your vehicle is in good working condition by paying special attention to the battery, ignition and exhaust systems, thermostat, defroster, heater, tires, and brakes.

You should never drive into snowy, icy or cold conditions without a fully charged cell phone, drinking water, and winter coats, warm blankets or both. But also consider keeping these items available too:

• Gloves, scarves, caps and extra socks
• Necessary prescribed medication(s) and pain relievers
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Ice scraper
• Small bag of sand (or kitty litter) for wheel traction
• Small folding shovel for snow removal
• Travel tool kit and battery cables
• Safety flares
• Plastic bags or containers for sanitation
• Healthy snacks
• Road map

Also be sure to stay informed. You can visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 to get the latest highway conditions. 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.

For more information and tips on staying safe on the road this winter, visit our Know Snow and Focus on Driving sites.

Did you know that more than 20 percent of all people killed on Arizona roadways in 2018 weren’t wearing seat belts? That equaled 216 unnecessary fatalities.

Seat belt use in Arizona has been on a decline, dropping from 88 percent in 2016 to 85.9 percent in 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In contrast, the national seat belt use was reported at 89.6 percent in 2018.

It’s important to understand the potentially fatal consequences of not wearing a seat belt and learn how you can make a positive difference. Start by setting the right example. Always wear your seat belt every time you drive. Model the behavior you want others to follow, especially your kids. Before you start to drive, make sure all passengers are buckled up properly or properly restrained in the appropriate car seat. Remember that in addition to saving lives, child car seats are required by Arizona law. Children younger than 8 years old and under 4 feet 9 inches must be properly secured in a safety or booster seat.

Vehicles come standard with an increasing amount of tech, all designed to keep us safer. But the simple seat belt proves to be one of the best defenses against impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle. For seat belt safety tips, go to FocusonDriving.com.

Unfortunately, drivers today still need to be convinced because the lack of seat belt use continues to be one of the leading factors in traffic deaths. Buckle up and get safely home!

It’s Shark Week!

Discovery Channel is back with its annual viewing extravaganza featuring this predator that resides near the top of the marine food chain.

Did you know there were 130 reported incidents of shark-human interaction worldwide in 2018? According to the International Shark Attack File, a scientific organization that compiles data from all known shark attacks, 66 of the shark-human interactions were unprovoked shark attacks, while 34 of the remaining cases were confirmed as provoked attacks.

Since this is an ADOT blog post, you’re probably wondering sharks relate to transportation. Well, as an avid scuba diver who’s been around sharks, I want remind you that sharks aren’t the mindless killers they’ve been made out to be.

But you know who is? The reckless driver.

Just take a look at ADOT's homepage, which displays the number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes year-to-date in Arizona. Nearly all of those traffic fatalities could have been prevented if drivers made the choice to not drive recklessly or impaired, weren’t distracted or had buckled up.

Sure, sharks have rows of razor-sharp teeth. But they won’t harm you if you give them space. Can you say the same about the driver more interested in a group text than paying attention to the road ahead?

Let’s all drive safely, and happy Shark Week!

Let’s face it. We all use “to do” lists to identify the items we want to accomplish every day. Whether it is a “to do” list at work or an infamous “honey-do list” at home, these lists help us stay focused and identify the tasks that are needed to get the job done. When we can put a check mark next to an item on the list to note it is done, what a great sense of accomplishment we feel.

I get the same feeling in describing the accomplishments completed by the employees at the Arizona Department of Transportation this past fiscal year. We have had a very productive year in serving our customers, the people of Arizona, in providing a safe and efficient transportation system. We have strived to make sure you get home to your loved ones safely. It’s our True North – Safely Home. Our employees are dedicated on all fronts to get everyone Safely Home. We have tried to spark conversations with friends and family on the importance of being a safe driver. We have made vast improvements to streamline our processes so you spend less time at our Motor Vehicle Division offices. We complete highway construction and pavement preservation projects on time. And we get law enforcement officers faster information to help stop wrong-way drivers.

 Let me share just a few items on our ADOT “to do” list and highlight the accomplishments so far:

• Constructed a new traffic interchange at Interstate 10/Ina Road in the Marana/Tucson area that is separating vehicular traffic from railroad activity and widening lanes for better mobility and safety.
• Continued to make significant progress in the construction of the largest public-private partnership program, Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, with the anticipated limited opening the freeway at the end of the year.
• Launched a new safety website, FocusOnDriving.com, which provides helpful tips and resources to make us all safer drivers.
• Implementing a dust detection system near Picacho Peak on Interstate 10.
• Modernizing our Motor Vehicle Division’s operating system to AZ MVD Now so we can serve our customers better and offer more services.
• Weathered a historic winter storm in February that brought snow to parts of the Valley.
• Continued to receive state and national recognition for our wrong-way driving detection system and sharing our findings with other DOTs to combat the problem.
• Found ways to eliminate waste in our processes – making change for the better. I am very proud of the effort our employees are demonstrating in embracing the principles behind the Arizona Management System.
• Recognized employees with Medals of Valor, Director Citation Awards and Director Pins for exemplary service to others and living our A.I.R. values (Accountability, Integrity and Respect).

Yes, our “to do” list at ADOT is vast and it seems never ending. However, we indeed have been able to put a check mark to items on our “to do” list. Even with a decrease in the number of employees at ADOT over the past several years, it is the dedication of the men and women who serve at ADOT for providing the sense of accomplishment I feel every day. Now, where did I put that “honey-do list?”

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

What do Disney and driving have in common?

To many people it’s a short list that includes the Autopia ride at Disneyland and the “Cars” movie franchise that spawned Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park.

Those are solid answers. How many of us – or our children – received our first “driver license” at Autopia? Or waited an hour-plus in line to experience the thrill of Radiator Springs Racers?

There’s another connection.

Earlier this month I came across a couple driver education films released by Disney in 1965. Featuring Goofy, both films, titled “Freeway Phobia” and “Goofy’s Freeway Troubles,” explored how drivers can safely secure loads, the dangers of speeding and tailgating, and safe-driving techniques.

While watching the films – you can view them at archive.org – what struck me is that today, more than 50 years after these films were made, drivers are making many of the same poor decisions that make roads less safe for all of us.

At ADOT, we’re working to change that. This week, we launched FocusOnDriving.com, a collection of safe-driving resources aimed to make motorists more informed about how to make Arizona’s roads safer. Topics range from driving in dust storms to Arizona’s “Move Over” law to avoiding wrong-way drivers.

Some of the content on the site is familiar – you’ve probably seen or heard some of the PSAs on television or radio, or on our social media channels – and we’ll continue to add content to the site as more is created.

National crash statistics show that more than 90 percent of crashes are caused by driver behavior. Our hope is that FocusOnDriving.com will help drivers become more informed, leading them to making better decisions behind the wheel. Because for Arizona’s roads to become safer for all of us, real change must begin in the driver’s seat.

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

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

Next week, Oct. 21-27, traffic safety stakeholders across the country will recognize National Teen Driver Safety Week.

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. With Teen Driver Safety Week coming, it’s a good time for parents to chat with their teen drivers and remind them of the simple actions they can take that make themselves safer in cars:

• Always wear a seat belt.
• Don’t speed.
• Don’t drive impaired or let impaired people get behind the wheel.
• Don’t drive distracted.

Those actions are some of the leading factors in fatal crashes and all are preventable. And, in Arizona, too many preventable crashes involving young drivers happen this month. In Arizona last year, the month of October saw more crashes involving young drivers than any other month. In 2017, there were 5,106 crashes involving drivers ages 16-24.

If there’s a young driver in your family, take a moment and talk about the easy things they can do that increase their odds of avoiding a crash.

This is part of a series we’re calling “Focus On Driving.” This series looks at often-overlooked measures that keep the traveling public safe – from rumble strips and barriers to the reflective paint used in lane striping – as well as timely safety topics, such as when crashes involving particular factors occur most often and nationally-recognized safety efforts.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

As the summer heat fades and weather turns comfortable, bicycles will be wheeled out of garages, pulled out of storage and return to roads and trails.

That makes this a good time to remind bicyclists and drivers what each can do to help keep the other safe on Arizona’s roads because the two-month stretch of September-October sees a high number of bicycle-related vehicle collisions.

Since 2015, Arizona has averaged almost 1,500 bicycle-related car crashes each year and a vast majority occur in urban areas, on clear days during daylight hours.

The Arizona Bicycle and Pedestrian Program offers these tips for riders and drivers:

What bicyclists can do

Bicycles Grand Canyon

• Always ride with the flow of traffic and obey the same rules of the road and traffic control devices (signals, signs, lane markings, etc.) as vehicles.
• Anticipate hazards and ride defensively.
• Be visible – wear bright colors and make eye contact with drivers.
• Wear a helmet!

What drivers can do

• Pass with care – give bicyclists plenty of room when passing.
• Be considerate – when parked on a street, look for bicyclists before opening your door.
• Children on bikes can be unpredictable – slow down and don’t expect them to follow traffic laws.

For more information on bicycling in Arizona, including a mobile-friendly bike map, visit the Arizona Bicycle and Pedestrian Program website.

This is part of a series we’re calling “Focus On Driving.” This series looks at often-overlooked measures that keep the traveling public safe – from rumble strips and barriers to the reflective paint used in lane striping – as well as timely safety topics, such as when crashes involving particular factors occur most often.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

School is back in session, and that means different things for different people. What it means for all of us, though, is that school buses have returned to Arizona’s roads after summer vacation.

It’s a good time to remember that all vehicles encountering a school bus must stop if the school bus is stopped and displaying its “stop sign” signal and alternately flashing lights. Doing this allows students getting on and off the bus a safe space to cross the street.

In the past three years, 62 school buses have been involved in crashes in the month of August in Arizona. That’s a little higher than the three-year monthly average in Arizona, but far higher than the totals of June (13) and July (seven) – not surprising, since most schools are on break during those months. Crashes involving school buses have decreased in each of the past two years, with 189 collisions occurring in 2017.

This is part of a series we’re calling “Focus On Driving.” This series looks at often-overlooked measures that keep the traveling public safe – from rumble strips and barriers to the reflective paint used in lane striping – as well as timely safety topics, such as when crashes involving particular factors occur most often.