PHOENIX – With Arizona experiencing another wave of snow in the high country this week, drivers should be prepared for what may be a busy winter-weather travel season on the state’s highways.

The Arizona Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety say drivers should plan ahead if their travels could include encounters with snow or ice. ADOT has a fleet of more than 200 snowplows across the state and more than 400 trained snowplow operators prepared to clear highways this winter. Giving snowplow operators plenty of room to safely do their jobs is among the following key safety recommendations for drivers to observe:

• Slow Down – drive according to road conditions, including operating at slower speeds and avoiding sudden acceleration on snow and ice.
• Leave Extra Room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. 
• Give Snowplows Space – slow down and stay at least four vehicle lengths behind a plow.
• Be Prepared – bring extra clothes and gloves, maintain at least a three-quarter-full tank of gas, keep your cell phone charged and pack extra drinking water, some food and all necessary medications. Pack items that would help in case you encounter an unscheduled highway closure.
• Pack an Emergency Kit in your vehicle – it should include blankets, a flashlight, ice scraper, small shovel, container of sand for traction and hazard warning lights or reflectors.
• Beware of Black Ice – especially at night when melting snow can turn to slippery ice. And remember, ice tends to form on bridges first and can be hard to see.
• Stay Up to Date – Visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov to get the latest highway condition information.

Depending on the severity and frequency of snow and ice in the state’s high country, ADOT usually spends between $5 million and $8 million on snow-removal operations during a winter season. Nearly 190,000 gallons of fuel were used to keep snowplows and support vehicles running last winter.

Did you know ADOT has three snowplows stationed in the Phoenix area? The trio of plows is kept at the agency’s Mesa maintenance yard and is most often used to clear snow and ice from sections of State Route 87 north of Fountain Hills, if and when a winter storm delivers snow to that area.

ADOT has helpful information about driving in winter weather conditions, including what to include in an emergency kit, at azdot.gov/KnowSnow . The site also provides an overview of ADOT’s efforts to clear snow and ice from state highways each winter.

PHOENIX — It’s an annual sign that winter is arriving in northern Arizona. The Arizona Department of Transportation will close State Route 67 between Jacob Lake (US 89A) and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park for the winter season on Tuesday, Dec. 1. 

The road could be closed earlier if heavy snowfall occurs in the area prior to the closure date.

ADOT does not clear snow from SR 67 during the winter since the visitor accommodations at the North Rim are closed. The highway reopens each spring, usually around mid-May. US 89A will remain open at the junction with SR 67.

In addition, State Route 473, a 10-mile-long highway that provides direct access to the Hawley Lake recreational area in the White Mountains region, will close for the winter beginning on Thursday, Nov. 19.

In southern Arizona, a portion of State Route 366 that leads to Mount Graham near Safford was closed for the winter on Nov. 15.  The closure from the end of the paved highway to the turnoff to Shannon Campground, is located approximately 22 miles from the junction of SR 366 and US 191 at an elevation of 9,100 feet. ADOT may need to close the scenic highway, also known as “Swift Trail,” at lower elevations as necessary to allow for snow removal.

SR 473 and SR 366 will be reopened in the spring, along with other local highways that are closed annually during the winter. 

Additional information can be found on ADOT’s “Know Snow” website at zdot.gov/KnowSnow.

Before heading out on the roads, drivers are encouraged to call 511 or visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov for the latest highway conditions around the state. The website features camera images along state highways that give drivers a glimpse of weather conditions in various regions.

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation reminds drivers to be prepared as a mid-week storm system crosses the state. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind advisory from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. Winds up to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph are possible and motorists should be ready for low visibility due to blowing dust. Even though monsoon season is over, blowing dust is possible throughout the year.

Along with wind and dust, drivers may encounter snow in the high country, especially above 6,000 feet. Travelers should be prepared for winter driving conditions and pack an emergency road kit. For more winter driving tips, visit /KnowSnow.

ADOT works closely with the National Weather Service and the Arizona State Troopers to inform motorists about road conditions. Drivers are advised to use extra caution along Interstate 17 and Interstate 40 and be prepared for a dust storm.

ADOT recommends the following driving tips when encountering high winds or dusty conditions:

• Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.
• If you encounter a dust storm, check traffic immediately 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. Completely exit the highway if you can, away from where other vehicles may travel.
• Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane; look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
• Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers.
• Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
• Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
• Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.
• Be aware that any storm can cause power outages to overhead roadway lighting and traffic signals. Drive with caution and treat all intersections without signals as having stop signs in all directions.

For more information and driving tips, please visit PullAsideStayAlive.org.

For the most current information about highway closures and restrictions statewide, visit ADOT’s Travel Information Site at az511.gov or call 5-1-1.

PHOENIX — Every winter season, Dave Harmon spends many days and nights plowing snow and ice to clear the highways in the Holbrook area. The hours are long, the weather can be treacherous, and the conditions are challenging, even dangerous at times, especially when drivers don’t give the plows enough room to work.

It’s easy to take for granted the important jobs performed by Arizona Department of Transportation snowplow operators, as they work around the clock during winter storms to quickly clear the roads in order to make traveling easier and safer along our state highways. Snowplow drivers offer some valuable tips to those traveling in snow country in order to keep everyone safe on the road.

ADOT Holbrook District snowplow drivers Dave Harmon, Kelly White and Beau Wagoner all agree that motorists can best help snowplow operators by slowing down and yielding to snowplows at a safe distance when plows are busy at work during snowstorms.

“Motorists should be aware that a plow’s top speed is about 45 miles an hour, and less in heavy snow,” said Harmon. “Drivers should stay back about 100 feet or more when following a snowplow. If they must pass, do so when sight distance assures safety. Motorists should be aware that occasionally things are hiding beneath snow and can be propelled to the side by the plow, such as wheel covers, asphalt chunks and rocks.”

ADOT has 450 employees who have extensive training and commercial driver licenses, which are required to operate a snowplow. During winter storms, operators typically work 12-hour shifts. The department has 214 snowplow trucks in its fleet, stationed in eight districts across the state.

Highways that are typically easy to travel during the summer months can become icy or snow-covered during the winter, especially during major storms. Travelers should be extra cautious on these snowy and slippery roads, expect delays in wintery conditions and plan ahead for extra travel time. That includes allowing more time when traveling around snowplows.

Snowplow operators offer these tips for drivers:

• First and foremost, never expect that a plow driver knows you are in the vicinity of the snowplow.
• Always keep a safe distance behind a snowplow, usually three to four times what you would normally allow behind another vehicle.
• Never stop too close behind a plow truck — you never know if the driver might need to back up.
• Never pass a plow truck on the right side if the plow is pushing snow in that direction — some trucks are equipped with a second side plow blade, which could be hit by a motorist’s vehicle.
• It’s important for both large and small vehicles to share the road with snowplows. In addition to driving, plow operators are also focused on what’s going on inside their cab and with situations on the roadway. Drivers should always use extra caution when approaching a plow truck from any direction.
• Snowplows need extra room to turn, so avoid getting into their blind spot area.
• Just because a plow truck has been through the area, drivers should not assume the roadway is completely clear of snow and ice. Don’t speed and always use caution during winter driving conditions.
• Nighttime plowing is far more difficult than daytime plowing, so use extra caution around snowplows after dark.
• If you can’t see the plow driver, there is a good chance the driver can’t see you either.

Here are some additional tips when sharing the road with snowplows:

• Never pass a snowplow that’s in the process of clearing snow and ice off the road.
• Stay back. Plowed snow can create a cloud that reduces visibility, and spreaders on trucks throw salt or sand that can damage your vehicle.
• Watch for snowplows operating in multiple travel lanes or in tandem.
• If approaching an oncoming snowplow, slow down and give the plow extra room.

More information can be found on ADOT’s “Know Snow” website at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

Before heading out on the roads, drivers are encouraged to call 5-1-1 or log on to ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov for the latest highway conditions around the state. The website features real-time images along state highways that give drivers a glimpse of weather conditions in various regions. ADOT’s Twitter feed is a great resource for travelers, too.