It's beginning to look a lot like ... the time of year people head out to cut down their own Christmas tree.

Okay, okay, we know that's not how the classic Christmas song goes, but we will still argue many will be searching for a Christmas tree in the coming weeks. Some will be traveling to our national forests where permits are available to cut down their own Tannebaum, while others will drive to the nearest tree lot or big box store to find their tree.

No matter which option your family chooses, please make sure your holiday cheer isn't dimmed by losing your tree before it makes it home. You can see that's what happened to one unfortunate family in this tweet from a few years ago. Each year, both before and after the holiday, it's not uncommon to see a Christmas tree in the middle of the road. Please secure your load so your tree doesn't cause a crash. Your gift for doing so will be delivering a new tree to your family, ready to decorate!

And if you are heading up north, whether to find your perfect tree or just going to enjoy cooler temperatures, there are a few other winter safety tips to keep in mind. Before you leave, make sure you pack a winter safety kit. Unexpected storms, crashes or car trouble may cause you to spend an extended time in your vehicle. You'll be glad you packed those extra blankets and snacks if you ever find yourself in that situation. Visit azdot.gov/KnowSnow for more winter travel tips.

Think it doesn’t snow in Arizona? Think again!

Driving in snowy and icy road conditions require some extra caution and planning. ADOT’s snowplows keep the highways in Arizona's mountain areas clear of snow and ice to help everyone stay safe. Operating these powerful machines are drivers who receive a lot of training, including spending time in a snowplow simulator machine. That training is important, since a new snowplow costs from $303,000 to $340,000, depending on the plow’s configuration. ADOT has about 200 snowplows. 

There is a lot to learn about snowplows at an ADOT website we call Know Snow. You also can check out our Know Snow YouTube playlist with videos about snow, snowplows and winter driving. Both links will take you to lots of safety tips. Most of these safety tips are for drivers, but here's one every kid should know: Never play in the snow next to a highway. One reason is that snowplows throw A LOT of snow and ice way off the roadway. You don't to be in the way when that's happening!

Download and print the snowplow-focused activity you see here to color. You can also read safety tips for your next trip with your family to play in the snow!

With temperatures finally creeping lower, it's time to start thinking about snow again. To prepare for this year’s winter storm season, about 230 ADOT employees participated in the recent Winter Readiness Academy.

Participants learned how to use snowplows to clear snow and ice on highways in Arizona’s mountain areas. Because of  the current public health situation, the in-person training used in previous years was transformed into a hybrid program with both virtual and in-person activities during the week of Sept. 21. 

“Students learned about running their routes, proper plowing techniques, coding plow activities, where and when to use proper material,” said Statewide Road Weather Manager Kevin Duby. “There is a lot to understand, and every situation and storm can be fluid.”  

Employees watched pre-recorded presentations by subject-matter experts and received in-person training using the snowplow simulator machine that presents the operator with real-world hazards they may face on the road. Because of the public-health emergency, units used social-distancing protocols and limited the number of people in their areas. 

“This workshop coupled with snowplow simulator training, unit-level snow meetings, hands-on equipment training and driving routes prepares our teams for the riggers of winter operations that lay ahead,” said Northcentral District Highway Operations Superintendent Thomas Eckler. “The workshop also allows for networking and the exchange of ideas on how to improve our processes and level of service.”

ADOT has about 200 snowplows. New plows cost about $303,000 to $340,000 each, depending on the plow’s configuration. 

That's how we are preparing, but you can read about how you can prepare for driving during wintry weather at azdot.gov/knowsnow.

EDITOR'S NOTE: During this unprecedented time, ADOT is creating transportation activities for kids. Please visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids or use the hashtag #ADOTKids on ADOT's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to see what we have going on. 

By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications

Thanks to everyone who took part in our first ADOT Kids activity about snowplows! I hope you had fun. We at ADOT sure enjoyed doing it. 

Everyone here loved the colorings you shared. And thanks for sending us so many great questions about snowplows.

As promised, there's a slideshow below with everyone's colorings. At right, you can watch a fun video with an ADOT engineer who knows A LOT about snowplows and how we keep highways safe during winter storms. His name is Jesse Gutierrez, and his job is Deputy State Engineer for Operations. We sure appreciate him answering your questions about snowplows.

We have more fun ADOT Kids activities lined up for you. Until next Wednesday, April 22, we hope you will take part in our Keep It Grand Art Challenge. We want you to use sidewalk chalk or anything else you have handy to encourage people to keep Arizona looking great by not littering. Please follow this link for more information. 

Next Wednesday, April 22, we'll have a new activity about how engineers build bridges. For more ADOT Kids fun, please keep checking back at azdot.gov/blog or by following the #ADOTKids hashtag on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. 

Now let's look at this terrific art you sent us!

EDITOR'S NOTE: During this unprecedented time, ADOT is creating transportation activities for kids. Please visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids or use the hashtag #ADOTKids on ADOT's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to see what we have going on. 

Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications

Did you know a snowplow weighs as much as five elephants? If you didn't, that means you may have missed our first ADOT Kids blog about snowplows. Over the next few weeks, we'll be helping kids learn more about transportation, construction and engineering. We'll be providing fun, educational activities for kids of all ages. You can search "ADOT Kids" on our website for activities or search social media using the hashtag #ADOTKids. 

Now, back to those really big snowplows! Kids, did you finish your snowplow coloring activity? Make sure you email it to [email protected] so it can be featured on our website! If you haven't finished your coloring project, visit the ADOT Blog to print our snowplow images for coloring. You can also read more about snowplows and watch videos of them in action when you visit the blog. 

After you've emailed your snowplow art to [email protected], take our quiz below to see how much you know about snowplows. If you still have questions about snowplows, get them answered by an ADOT engineer! Email your questions to [email protected] or post them on social media using the hashtag #ADOTKids. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: During this unprecedented time, ADOT is creating transportation activities for kids. Please visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids or use the hashtag #ADOTKids on ADOT's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to see what we have going on.

By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications

Did you know that one ADOT snowplow weighs as much as five elephants? That’s 30 tons!

Snowplows keep the highways in Arizona's mountain areas clear of snow and ice to help everyone stay safe. Operating these powerful machines are drivers who receive a lot of training, including spending time in a snowplow simulator machine. That training is important, since a new snowplow costs at least $250,000. 

Check out the video at right showing ADOT snowplows and snowplow drivers in action. It's from 2014. 

A snowplow driver’s job is very important in keeping roads safe for travel. The city of Flagstaff, which is about a two-hour drive north of Phoenix, can get 90 inches of snow in a year. If that all fell at once, it would be taller than Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns!

There are two busy freeways near Flagstaff, Interstate 40 and Interstate 17, so that area has a lot of ADOT plows on the road when it snows. That helps keep everyone safe.  

Snowplow drivers work for 12 hours. That’s like starting when you first get up for school and finishing at dinnertime! Can you imagine sitting behind the wheel of one of these large vehicles in a snowstorm for that long?

If you think that these snowplows are big, check out the second video about the TowPlow. ADOT has two TowPlows. They attach to the back of a regular snowplow, and the driver steers it clear even more snow and ice.

TowPlows are HUGE! They allow one driver in a snowplow to do the work of TWO regular snowplows.

By now, I hope you love snowplows as much as I do. There's lots more to learn about them at a website we call Know Snow. You also can check out our Know Snow YouTube channel with videos about snow, snowplows and winter driving. Both links will take you to lots of safety tips. Most of these safety tips are for drivers, but here's one every kid should know: Never play in the snow next to a highway. One reason is that snowplows throw A LOT of snow and ice way off the roadway. You don't to be in the way when that's happening!

We also have activities for you:

COLOR A PICTURE AND SEND IT TO US: When you color one or both of the snowplow pictures below (click on them for a version you can print), have an adult scan or take a picture of your coloring and email it to [email protected]. We'll add every one we receive by 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, to a slideshow and put it right here on Friday, April 17, so you can see your masterpiece along with everyone else's. We've included spaces for you to include your first name (only your first name), your age and where you live. We can't post photos of you with your art, but we'd love to show just your art. UPDATE: We've added a slideshow with everyone's colorings below. 

SEND US QUESTIONS: When an adult emails your picture to [email protected], please send us questions you have about snowplows. We'll share the most popular questions with an ADOT engineer who knows A LOT about snowplows. UPDATE: We've shared this video below in which Jesse Gutierrez, our deputy state engineer for operations, answers your questions. 

I can't wait to see what you do with these drawings and to see what questions you have about ADOT snowplows!

 

Print Snowplow Exterior Sheet

 

Print Snowplow Interior Sheet

Answers to your questions about snowplows!

Thanks for all of your great questions. Here is a video in which Jesse Gutierrez, ADOT's deputy state engineer for operations, answers them.

Here's a slideshow with your art!