Pull Aside Stay Alive

Be prepared to ‘Pull Aside, Stay Alive’ during monsoon season

Be prepared to ‘Pull Aside, Stay Alive’ during monsoon season

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Be prepared to ‘Pull Aside, Stay Alive’ during monsoon season

Be prepared to ‘Pull Aside, Stay Alive’ during monsoon season

June 10, 2024

ADOT marks Monsoon Awareness Week

PHOENIX – A wall of dust that towers on the horizon. A heavy downpour of localized rain. These weather occurrences that happen during the monsoon season can rapidly reduce visibility and create unsafe driving conditions.  

With the monsoon season rapidly approaching – officially, it runs June 15-Sept. 30 – ADOT is reminding motorists during Monsoon Awareness Week (June 9-15) how to stay safe and be prepared for the extreme weather that monsoon season brings.

Let’s start with dust storms. The best thing to do if you see a dust storm? Don’t drive into it. But what if you encounter low-visibility blowing dust or a dust channel and aren’t able to exit the highway? Act quickly and follow the “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” tips:

  • Check traffic around you and begin slowing down.
  • Pull off as far right as you can and exit the highway before visibility becomes poor.
  • 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.
  • Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  • Turn off all vehicle lights, including emergency flashers. You do not want vehicles approaching from behind to use your lights as a guide and possibly crash into your vehicle.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt buckled and wait for the storm to pass.

Although Arizona is known for its heat and desert climate, the monsoon can produce sudden, heavy rainfall. Make sure you regularly check your windshield wipers and replace them if needed – our dry climate can destroy rubber wiper blades. If you’re caught in rainy conditions, remember to:

  • Turn on your headlights.
  • Reduce your speed and maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
  • Avoid sudden braking, which can cause you to slide on the wet pavement. 
  • Avoid areas where water is pooling in travel lanes.

And because summer is road-trip season, ADOT recommends motorists prepare for unplanned delays by packing a summer emergency travel kit that includes plenty of extra water, snacks,  sun protection (hat, umbrella, sunscreen, etc.), flashlight, extra batteries and a fully charged cell phone.

Drivers and passengers can get real-time travel conditions and access to highway cameras at ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov or by downloading the AZ511 app.

Monsoon’s arrival a reminder to Pull Aside, Stay Alive

Monsoon’s arrival a reminder to Pull Aside, Stay Alive

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Monsoon’s arrival a reminder to Pull Aside, Stay Alive

Monsoon’s arrival a reminder to Pull Aside, Stay Alive

June 15, 2023

ADOT urges drivers to be ready for dust storms, rain as monsoon season begins

PHOENIX – It can seemingly happen in an instant: A wall of dust blows across a highway and blinds drivers. Heavy rain then covers the roadway in water. It’s nearly impossible to drive – and surely unsafe.

In a panic, overwhelmed drivers may be unpared to safely navigate the powerful forces of a monsoon storm.

The solution is simple: Pull Aside, Stay Alive.

With Thursday, June 15, marking the official start of the monsoon season, the Arizona Department of Transportation has simple tips to help drivers stay safe when summer storms pack dust and heavy rain.

The surest defense when dust storms are brewing is to not drive into one. Yet because storms can form and move quickly, motorists need to know how to act quickly if they find themselves in the thick of a blinding dust. ADOT’s Pull Aside, Stay Alive safety campaign offers these additional tips:

  • If in a dust storm, check for traffic around your vehicle and begin slowing down.
  • Pull off the roadway as soon as possible – completely, if you can – without waiting for visibility to worsen.
  • Turn off your engine.
  • Turn off all vehicle lights. Vehicles approaching from behind could use your headlights as a guide and potentially crash into you.
  • Take your foot off the brake and set the emergency brake.
  • Stay in your vehicle and remain buckled up until the storm passes.

Those who travel Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson should also be aware of ADOT’s dust detection and warning system. Active along a 10-mile corridor between Eloy and Picacho Peak, this automated system can lower the speed limit from the normal 75 mph to as low as 35 mph depending on visibility. The reduced speed limits are enforceable.

The clearly marked corridor includes overhead message boards that feature safety warnings when the system is activated. While the system was designed to help drivers move through the area more safely during dust storms, it does not replace common sense. As is the case anywhere in Arizona where dust storms pop up, drivers should be prepared to pull over even with the additional safety features in the area. 

ADOT routinely services the equipment in the corridor for reliability, just as the agency works year-round to maintain more than 55 pump stations along Phoenix-area freeways. Those stations can include up to four pumps driven by powerful engines capable of lifting more than 12,000 gallons of stormwater per minute.

Still, localized storms that drop more than 2 inches of rain per hour can tax any drainage system, and ADOT focuses on having technicians ready to respond if issues occur with any pump stations. If freeway flooding does occur in a low-lying area, avoid driving into the water and wait for emergency responders to provide assistance. 

Motorists should also be prepared to slow down any time rain has fallen on freeways or local roadways. Allow extra room between vehicles to provide a safe stopping distance.

More information on dust storm safety is available at PullAsideStayAlive.org, and safety tips for driving in rain storms are posted at azdot.gov/monsoon.

 

ADOT recognized by National Weather Service for driver safety efforts

ADOT recognized by National Weather Service for driver safety efforts

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT recognized by National Weather Service for driver safety efforts

ADOT recognized by National Weather Service for driver safety efforts

September 21, 2020

PHOENIX -  Arizona Department of Transportation innovations designed to improve driver safety and awareness during bad weather conditions have earned recognition from the National Weather Service, which has cited ADOT as a “Weather Ready Nation Ambassador of Excellence.”

Because Arizona’s climate ranges from low desert to Alpine extremes, ADOT works with National Weather Service offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff and Las Vegas to constantly monitor a remarkable range of weather activity. This includes heat events, major winter storms, monsoon storms that can produce deadly lightning and flash flooding, the effects of wildfires, high winds and other occurrences throughout Arizona. 

With central Arizona being a prime location for dust storms, in 2019 ADOT installed a state-of-the-art X-band radar dust detection system on portions of Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, as well as variable speed limit signs that adjust in response to poor weather such as dust storms or heavy rainfall. 

DOT also coordinates with the National Weather Service on an emergency action plan to respond quickly to flooding emergencies, especially in areas burned out by wildfires where flooding can be more severe. Streamlined communication and preventative measures as part of the federal Pathfinder Program allow maintenance crews to take quick action to close highways and keep drivers safe in the event of flooding.

Among the weather-related safety initiatives promoted by ADOT are the “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” dust storm awareness effort and the “Know Snow” campaign for winter driving safety.

“The National Weather Service and ADOT work closely to promote safety for all Arizona drivers. Weather conditions in Arizona can bring extreme heat, blinding dust storms, flash flooding, thunderstorms, snow, ice and many other conditions that challenge drivers”, said Acting Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jaret Rogers. “Our partnership is vital for making roadways as safe as possible during adverse weather conditions and ADOT has promoted innovative safety measures and awareness campaigns. This has earned ADOT the distinction of being known as a National Weather Service Weather Ready Nation Ambassador of Excellence.”

“Safety is the number one priority for the Arizona Department of Transportation and we rely very heavily on great partners like the National Weather Service,” said ADOT Transportation Systems and Management Operations Director Brent Cain. “Arizona weather can range from temperatures in the 80s in one part of the state to snow in another, sometimes on the same day. Without our relationship with the National Weather Service, it would be difficult to effectively meet the safety needs of the public. We’re grateful for this recognition.”

For more information: 

https://www.weather.gov/wrn/ambassador_recognition

Know Snow, Dust Detection: /about/transportation-safety/severe-weather

Contest names ADOT's dust storm ditty

Contest names ADOT's dust storm ditty

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Contest names ADOT's dust storm ditty

Contest names ADOT's dust storm ditty

By John Tucker / ADOT Communications
June 29, 2020

It’s a tale as old as dust. Two down-on-their-luck songwriters team up and, against all odds, finagle a meeting with producers of a wildly successful website. At the meeting, the duo pitches co-writing a theme song. The producers are not impressed and summon security to toss the pair out. But one producer speaks out. She proposes giving the duo a chance, but with a catch. They must produce a song about dust storm safety and turn it around in one day. If they succeed, it might lead to future opportunities.

The songwriters take the challenge, write a catchy song and recruit gifted musicians to record it. The resulting recording takes the land by storm, becoming No. 1 Solid Gold on the Billboard Hot 100 and significantly boosting the website’s profile.

Time out for a reality check!

The account above is based on a true story, but I’ve taken artistic license with the facts for dramatic effect.

Now, it’s time to reveal the true back story of this "Behind the Music" tall tale.

John Walradt and I both work at ADOT – John as a graphic designer and I as a community relations project manager. We’ve played music together in the past and both enjoy songwriting. We decided to approach our co-workers in charge of the ADOT Kids program about adding some music to the interactive website.

The ADOT Kids producers warmed to the idea after hearing recordings of some of our individual songs. Our first thought was to co-write a theme song for the website, but the producers saw an opportunity to try something different to promote ADOT’s annual Pull Aside, Stay Alive campaign, which focuses on dust-storm safety. They asked us to compose a song for young people that emphasizes how to stay safe in a dust storm.   

John composed the verses and I wrote the chorus. We split up the lyric writing, each penning a verse and collaborating on the chorus. We recorded a rough cut of the song and shared it with the ADOT Kids producers who approved the project.

Next, we recruited in-house talent to help us record the song. In keeping with safety guidelines due to the current public health situation, we recorded the song parts individually. With help from ADOT’s Video Services team, I laid down a guitar track and lead vocal track in the recording booth at ADOT. That me in the booth in the top photo. Next, Gaby Kemp, another community relations project manager, and her talented daughters Naomi, 7, and Raquel, 6, added enthusiastic background vocals.

Doug Nick, assistant communications director for customer outreach and an accomplished drummer, recorded a drum track at home and emailed it to John, who added a keyboard part and vocal harmony in his home studio. As this photo shows, John mixed all the tracks and, voilà, the yet-unnamed dust storm song was brought to life.

Although the “true” story pales in comparison to the hyped "Behind the Music" version, I still feel like we turned dust into gold, gold forged through teamwork and a spirit of fun.

There's just one little catch: This future hit still needs a name! And that's where you come in. Whether you're a kid or a kid at heart, we need your help coming up with a fun title for our song.

So here's how you help. First off, give our song a listen, then email your idea for a title to [email protected] by close of business Monday, July 6, and we'll pick our favorite. We'll announce the winners next week on the ADOT Blog and on ADOT's social media channels. 

QUIZ: Are you prepared for dust storms?

QUIZ: Are you prepared for dust storms?

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QUIZ: Are you prepared for dust storms?

QUIZ: Are you prepared for dust storms?

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications
June 19, 2020

You are driving down the highway when, straight ahead, you see a wall of swirling dust in front of you. It's a dust storm on the move, and it's crossing the highway. What do you do?

Planning for changing weather conditions is a must for all drivers. We talk a lot about how you should "Know Snow," but making the right choices when encountering a dust storm is equally important. That's why we put together this quiz to see if you know how to keep yourself safe. Whether you are learning for the first time or just need a refresher, test your knowledge of dust storm safety tips in the quiz below!

You can also find more information at FocusOnDriving.com and PullAsideStayAlive.org.

Drivers: Do you know what to do when confronted with a dust storm?

Drivers: Do you know what to do when confronted with a dust storm?

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Drivers: Do you know what to do when confronted with a dust storm?

Drivers: Do you know what to do when confronted with a dust storm?

June 10, 2019

PHOENIX – Are you ready, Arizona? Monsoon season is back.

While the exact moment of when the first massive wall of dust will rise up from the desert floor isn’t known, we do know this: It’s coming.

With June 9-14 officially proclaimed Monsoon Awareness Week by Governor Doug Ducey, now is the perfect time to brush up on the actions drivers can take to stay safest when confronted with blowing dust.

The No. 1 thing motorists can do to stay out of harm’s way? Do. Not. Drive. Into. A. Dust. Storm.

That’s a really bad idea. Visibility can drop to zero and turn pitch black, meaning you’re driving blind and so is anyone else on the road with you. But maybe you’re curious and wonder, “Just how dark and dangerous could it be?” Well, we’ve got the answers. This video shows how quickly visibility is reduced to nearly nothing after driving into a dust storm. And this video shows the aftermath of a 19-vehicle collision that occurred in 2013 in dust storm on Interstate 10 near Picacho Peak that resulted in three fatalities and a dozen injured people.

OK, so now you’re convinced to not make the decision to drive into the towering wall of dust. But what if a dust channel whips across the highway in front of you, engulfing your vehicle in a swirling sandstorm? Remember these words: Pull Aside, Stay Alive.

ADOT has developed the following “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” dust storm safety driving tips, which can help motorists survive a blowing dust event.

  • If you encounter a dust storm, immediately check traffic 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.
  • 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. You do not want other vehicles, approaching from behind, to use your lights as a guide and possibly crash into your parked vehicle.
  • Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt 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.

More information on dust storm safety can be found at PullAsideStayAlive.org and safety tips for driving in rainstorms can be found at azdot.gov/monsoon.

After you “Pull Aside, Stay Alive,” what comes next?

After you “Pull Aside, Stay Alive,” what comes next?

I-17 101 traffic interchange

After you “Pull Aside, Stay Alive,” what comes next?

After you “Pull Aside, Stay Alive,” what comes next?

June 10, 2018

PHOENIX – You know not to drive into the towering wall of dust. And if a dust channel whips across a highway and engulfs your vehicle, the mantra “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” can lead you to safety.

But even after you’ve pulled aside, one of the most important actions must still be taken – turn off your lights!

Turn off headlights, emergency flashers, dome lights and take your foot off the brake. Stay buckled up, set the parking brake, go dark and wait for the dust storm to pass.

Here’s why: If you become caught in a dust storm and have pulled off the highway, you’re in a dangerous spot – less dangerous than driving blind on the road, though – and want to hide. You can do that by turning off all vehicle lights. If you leave lights on, drivers behind you might believe you’ve found the way out and follow, crashing into your parked car because low-visibility affects depth perception.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has produced 30-second public service announcements – in English and Spanish – on this topic that will air statewide on television and radio throughout monsoon season as part of ADOT’s partnership with the Arizona Broadcasters Association. The PSAs can be viewed on ADOT’s YouTube channel.

As Monsoon Awareness Week begins and we near the official start of monsoon season, ADOT wants to remind drivers of the No. 1 dust-storm driving tip: Do not drive into a dust storm.

“Road trips are a great way to get out and experience all that Arizona has to offer,” Governor Doug Ducey said. “If there’s a dust storm in your path, it’s time to take a break from driving. Make the safe and smart decision to delay your travel plans and wait for the storm to pass.”

Towering, dense, blowing dust can drop visibility to zero. Just as dangerous are the small dust channels that whip across roadways in an instant, affording drivers little or no opportunity to avoid them. In such events, ADOT has developed the following “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” dust storm safety driving tips, which can help travelers survive a storm.

  • Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.
  • If you encounter a dust storm, immediately check traffic 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.
  • 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. You do not want other vehicles approaching from behind to use your lights as a guide, possibly crashing into your parked vehicle.
  • Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt 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.

More information on dust storm safety can be found at PullAsideStayAlive.org and safety tips for driving in rainstorms can be found at azdot.gov/monsoon.

#FridayFive: We're talkin' dust storms, construction milestones and Voluntary Travel ID

#FridayFive: We're talkin' dust storms, construction milestones and Voluntary Travel ID

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#FridayFive: We're talkin' dust storms, construction milestones and Voluntary Travel ID

#FridayFive: We're talkin' dust storms, construction milestones and Voluntary Travel ID

April 13, 2018

Arizona State Capitol Dome

By David Woodfill / ADOT Communications

This week, we saw highway closures from blowing dust, promoted worker safety, announced highways reopening after winter hibernation and more. Don’t forget to follow the hashtag #FridayFive on social media to see what others are sharing from their week.


1. The Arizona State Capitol Dome glowed orange for National Work Zone Awareness Week. What a picture to start this week's Friday Five! The dome was illuminated dusk to dawn April 9-13 to remind folks to give our road workers a brake. Check out the time-lapse video at right.

About 1,300 crashes in Arizona occurred in work zones during 2017. Eleven people died and 30 were seriously injured.


2018-0413

Dust storm

2. Blowing dust forced the closure of Interstate 10 in Casa Grande and State Route 347 between I-10 and Maricopa this week, reminding us of the dangers of driving in such conditions. We took the opportunity to remind folks to Pull Aside – Stay Alive.

If you ever encounter blowing dust, check traffic around you, slow down, exit the highway completely, turn off all of your lights, stay off your brakes and stay buckled until the storm passes.

Follow the hashtag #PullAsideStayAlive for the latest information on dust from ADOT and the National Weather Service.


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Facebook Post

3. Three state highways in the White Mountains reopened this week after a long winter slumber.

We asked folks on Facebook to tell us which highway they planned to travel this summer– SR 261 between Eagar and Big Lake, SR 273 between Sunrise Park and Big Lake or State Route 473 between SR 260 and Hawley Lake.

SR 273 was the clear highway of choice with 61 percent.


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SMF Construction

4. It wouldn't be a normal week if the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway project didn't reach another milestone.

Construction is now two-thirds complete on what will be the longest bridges on the freeway. Two half-mile spans will carry traffic over the Salt River in Laveen and will serve the burgeoning areas of the southwest Valley when the freeway opens by late 2019.

This work involves setting some very, very long girders to support the bridge decks. Check out this video on ADOT Flickr to see just how long they are.


travel-id-on-blue-background

Voluntary Travel ID

5. Finally, we urged Arizonans to consider getting a Voluntary Travel ID through ADOT's Motor Vehicle Division.

This an Arizona driver license or ID card that meets requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. Starting Oct. 1, 2020, Transportation Security Administration will no longer accept standard Arizona credentials at airport security. If you wish to use your state credential at airports and secure federal facilities, a Voluntary Travel ID is the way to do that.

To learn more about the Voluntary Travel ID, visit azdot.gov/TravelID.

Best advice for blowing dust: Pull Aside, Stay Alive

Best advice for blowing dust: Pull Aside, Stay Alive

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Best advice for blowing dust: Pull Aside, Stay Alive

Best advice for blowing dust: Pull Aside, Stay Alive

April 11, 2018

PHOENIX – Drivers across Arizona should be prepared for strong winds, possible blowing dust and an increased fire danger on Thursday, April 12.

The National Weather Service has issued advisories covering the entire state forecasting strong winds and low humidity, conditions that could make driving hazardous in areas prone to blowing dust and for drivers with high-profile vehicles.

Statewide, winds of 25-30 mph are forecast, with gusts likely to reach 40 mph. Winds are expected to increase beginning late Wednesday in western Arizona and reach the center of the state by midday on Thursday. The strongest winds are likely in northwest Arizona, including Kingman and Lake Havasu City. Conditions are expected to return to normal on Friday across the state.

The Arizona Department of Transportation encourages drivers to avoid driving into a through a dust storm. Drivers may want to consider delaying travel until Friday.

Drivers should slow down after checking traffic around their vehicle and completely exit the highway if possible. Additional safety tips from PullAsideStayAlive.org:

  • Pull entirely off the highway if possible.
  • Turn off all vehicle lights, set the parking brake and take your foot off the brake to reduce the likelihood of being hit by following drivers.
  • Remain in your vehicle with your seatbelts buckled.
  • Wait for the storm to pass.

For current road and weather conditions, passengers should check on Twitter with ADOT (@ArizonaDOT) and the National Weather Service (@NWSPhoenix and @NWSTucson).

With monsoon storms forecast, be prepared for severe weather dangers

With monsoon storms forecast, be prepared for severe weather dangers

I-17 101 traffic interchange

With monsoon storms forecast, be prepared for severe weather dangers

With monsoon storms forecast, be prepared for severe weather dangers

September 8, 2017

PHOENIX – With strong monsoon storms forecast in much of Arizona going into the weekend, be ready to pull aside and wait out extreme weather.

Please heed this advice: Get off the highways when facing a dust storm. In almost no time, blowing dust can drop visibility to zero, especially where small dust channels afford drivers little or no opportunity to avoid this hazard.

Other tips from the Arizona Department of Transportation:

  • If you encounter a dust storm, immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
  • Don’t wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to pull off the roadway safely; do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
  • Don’t 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. You don’t want other vehicles approaching from behind to use your lights as a guide and crash into your vehicle.
  • Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
  • Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be aware of changing weather conditions and reduce speed.

Monsoon season can produce thunderstorms with sudden, heavy rainfall. Keep these tips in mind:

  • Don’t risk crossing a flooded wash, even if it doesn’t look deep. Even a few inches of running water poses a serious risk.
  • Don’t drive around “Road Closed” signs. You risk your life and face being cited under state law.
  • If traffic lights are out, treat an intersection as a four-way stop.
  • Storm runoff can loosen boulders and rocks on slopes above highways. Stay alert in areas prone to falling rocks.
  • Inspect your windshield wipers and replace them if necessary.
  • Reduce your speed and maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
  • Avoid sudden braking, which can cause you to slide on wet pavement. To slow down, take your foot off the gas pedal and brake slowly.

More information on dust storm safety can be found at PullAsideStayAlive.org, and safety tips for driving in rainstorms are available at azdot.gov/monsoons.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT.