A truck striking the bottom of a lower-height bridge deck -- also commonly called an overpass -- can cause plenty of damage.

ADOT engineers had noticed that one problem area were I-17 overpasses in Phoenix. Trucks hitting overpasses at 19th Avenue, 16th Street and other locations were causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Enter the Central District and Regional Traffic Engineering teams. After exploring a few options, it was determined that a solution to this recurring issue was adding red-and-white reflective sheeting to the bottom decks of several I-17 bridges. This makes the bridge overpass stand out for trucks that don't meet the bridge clearance.

Sheeting was trimmed to fit the bottom edges of the bridges. Highway Operations team members installed the material on I-17 overpasses at 19th Avenue, Seventh Avenue, Seventh Street and 16th Street.

The team's ingenuity and perseverance paid off. Since the sheeting was installed last summer, there have been no bridge hits at those locations. Previously, overpass repairs at those locations totaled about $37,000 a year.

“The feedback so far has been very favorable regarding the visibility, cost and ease of installation,” said Highway Operations Superintendent Sean McHugh. “Based on this easier and lower cost process, standard work was created for low-height bridges that can be applied across the state.”

“They’re creepy and they're kooky.
Mysterious and spooky
They're all together ooky.”

We’re not talking about the Addams Family. 

As Halloween approaches on Sunday, Oct. 31, we’re talking about scary motorists, the creepy crawly kind who:

• Think they’re witches who can fly over traffic, forgetting about the little Diana Taurasis, Devin Bookers and Wonder Women scurrying about amid superheroes, ghosts and goblins.
• Think it’s okay to imbibe too many drinks from the adults-only cauldron without designating a driver, putting a zombie’s army of costume-clad candy seekers at risk.
• Forget that on Halloween, the ghoulish streets are no place to be speeding or driving carelessly or aggressively.

Be an Ariel, not a Tazmanian Devil. Buckle your seatbelt, drive sober, go extra slowly and give yourself plenty of time to get home from your weekend errands.

Pack some patience along with that extra bag of candy. Plan ahead and remember to leave earlier. Don’t let too much sugar keep you from staying alert to the candy crush of Halloween funsters.

Take heed of these safety messages (on the right ) that we displayed on Halloweens’ past.

And, look forward to ADOT’s new Halloween safety messages, which are scheduled to debut over the weekend.

So, let’s all make a commitment not to be “ooky” drivers this year! Here’s to a safe Halloween!

For another reminder about Halloween safety that's sure to drive you batty, click here.

What’s so important about being physically active? Well, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical inactivity is a major contributor to health problems like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other bad health conditions in the United States. ADOT Kids encourages safe and active transportation for kids across the state.

What is active transportation? Active transportation is a physical activity that is any self-propelled, human-powered mode of transportation, such as walking, bicycling, riding a scooter or a skateboard. 

You can read more about bike safety in this ADOT Blog, but we want to talk about being safe while walking near, or crossing, roads and streets, also known as being a pedestrian! According to the Active Transportation Alliance, here are some ways to be an SSP (*Super Safe Pedestrian):

• Walk on a sidewalk whenever possible. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic on the left side of the road. 
• Before crossing a street, stop, look left, right and then left again to make sure it is safe to cross. At a four-way intersection, also look behind and in front.
• Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact and wave to drivers before stepping out. 
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.
• Walk, don’t run, across the street. 
• Cross at corners, using crosswalks and traffic signals whenever possible. Wait for the signal to cross, but still watch out for cars.
• Be alert, removing any headphones or putting devices like phones down while crossing a street.
• Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.
• If you are under 10 years old, we suggest you have a walking buddy who is older.

Download and print the ADOT Kids’ active transportation activity to help SSP (Super Safe Pedestrian) Pete safely cross the streets to get home. 

You can learn more about ADOT’s plans and strategies to improve safety, infrastructure, education, plans and programs for active transportation across Arizona on the Active Transportation website. You can also learn more about the 6-mile shared-use path that runs alongside the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway in Phoenix, which is open to all non-motorized users, such as runners, skaters, walkers and cyclists. Even leashed dogs are welcome to use the path.

Click below to download the activity. 

Drivers, with another school year upon us, it’s time to review school bus etiquette – namely making sure to stop and wait when the stop sign arm on the bus is activated.

It’s important to obey the stop sign in order to allow students getting on and off the bus a safe space to cross the street. About 13,000 motorists each year are reported by Arizona school bus drivers for not stopping as required.

ADOT recently refined the process to make it easier for bus drivers to report drivers who run the stop sign. Using an online form, bus drivers can send a complaint of a stop sign violator directly to ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division. MVD then sends a notification letter, which is not a citation, to the vehicle owner as an effort to call attention to the seriousness of running the stop sign.

Previously, school bus drivers would fax forms to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which then emailed or faxed the reports to MVD. Those reports would often come in batches and be difficult to read. Using an online form removes DPS from the process and makes the submission electronic.

Drivers, your homework is to review the penalties for passing a school bus when a stop sign arm is extended, which could be a civil penalty and possibly a suspended driver license – not to mention putting the safety of students at risk. 

Also, make sure to not give the school bus driver a reason to report you by waiting until the stop sign arm is retracted.

Class dismissed.

Forgive us for stating the obvious, but as long as there have been cars, there have been drivers.

And while that statement seems incredibly self-apparent, it's always something important to remember. There are people behind the wheel of each vehicle. They are our family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and, well, us!  

With all us being human, it's only natural that we would all need to do a self-check on our driving habits.

That's why we were so interested lately when we stumbled upon a November 1969 article from "Hiway Drumbeats," the old employee newsletter for the Arizona Highway Department (the precursor to ADOT). The headline immediately caught our eye: "Are You a Courteous Driver?"

It's a great question. And the interrogation didn't stop at the headline. What followed was a self-evaluation of sorts for every driver out there. And despite it being nearly 52 years old, we think everyone would benefit from this bit of introspection. That's why we thought we would share it with you now:  

Here is a list of questions – with the current emphasis on safe driving habits by Governor Jack Williams – which will permit any driver to give himself a road courtesy test.

How do you measure up? Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I follow the car ahead too closely?
• Do I inconsiderately make turns from the wrong traffic lane?
• Do I fail to give proper directional or hand signals?
• Do I aggressively deny another driver the right of way?
• Do I obstinately insist on the right of way if the other fellow happens to be out of line?
• Do I weave in and out of traffic?
• Do I pass other cars on hills or curves?
• Do I bullishly try to bluff other drivers?
• Do I fail to use the horn when necessary to warn other drivers?
• Do I irritate drivers and pedestrians by unnecessary use of the horn?
• Am I the one who forgets to dim lights for other drivers?
• Am I a road hog?
• Do I refuse to wait for pedestrians who may be crossing the street when the light turns?
• Do I block the pedestrian crosswalk while waiting for the light?
• Do I endanger others as well as myself by driving after drinking?
• Do I drive at excessive speed or exceed lawful limits?
• Do I give the driver from the side street a break?
• Do I double park?

Well, how did you do? Passed with flying colors or is your conscious tingling just a bit? 

If it's the former, we hope you take this as a reminder to keep up the good habits. If it's the latter, the good news is we can work on this every single time we get behind the wheel.

And definitley don't wait another 52 years to give yourself this quiz again.

Bicycles are a form of transportation, and because ADOT is the state's department of transportation, we want to make sure bicycle riders are safe on the roads and streets. Here are some tips for kid – and adult – riders!

Wear a helmet

Wear a bike helmet every time you’re on your bike to protect your face, head and brain if you fall down. It should fit you well and have a sticker that says it meets the rules set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Wear it so that it covers your forehead. If it tips back, have the straps tightened and always keep them fastened. Don’t wear a hat under it and take care of your helmet. If it gets damaged, it won’t protect your head as well.

The right bicycle

Having the right size bicycle is important for safety. To check the size, stand straddling the top bar of your bicycle and have both feet flat on the ground. There should be 1 to 3 inches of space between you and the top bar.

Perform a safety check

• Make sure your seat, handlebars and wheels fit tightly.
• Check and oil your chain.
• Check your brakes to make sure they're not sticking.
• Add air to your tires, if needed.

Wear the right clothes

Brightly colored clothing and reflectors on your bicycle will help others on the road to see you. Be careful not to have loose pant legs, straps or shoelaces that can get caught in your bicycle chain. Sneakers are the best kind of shoes to wear when you bicycle. Sandals, flip-flops or shoes with cleats won’t help you grip the pedals. And never go riding barefoot! Don't wear headphones or earbuds because the music can distract you from noises such as a car blowing its horn so you can get out of the way.

On the road

Always watch for cars. At intersections stop, look left, look right and look left again. It’s best to make eye contact with a driver to make sure they see you. Watch for rocks or other road hazards to prevent a crash.

Use hand signals to let others know what you plan to do. For a left turn: left arm extended straight out. Right turn: left arm bent at the elbow, or right arm extended straight out. Stopping: left arm bent down at the elbow. Now that you know more about bicycle safety, including hand signals, give yourself a big thumbs up!

Maps are an important part of transportation communication. Practice drawing a map of your neighborhood and then draw a line showing your bicycle route with this printable activity sheet. Just click on the image above and have your parents print it out! Check out the ADOT Kids website for more fun activities and information about transportation engineering and other related topics. You can also find us on social media under the hashtag #ADOTKids.

Ride safe!

There's just something wonderful about spring. The weather warms up, flowers bloom and everyone is ready to get out of the house.

But as many hit the road in their pickup truck, sedan, crossover, SUV or RV, we can't forget those who think the best way to see the state is on two wheels. 

The number of motorcyclists on the road always jumps sharply once spring arrives, but we want to make sure the number of crashes involving motorcyclists doesn't do the same. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 5,014 motorcycle riders killed in crashes in 2019.

That's why May has been designated Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. It's a reminder to drivers on two wheels or four to both do their part to keep motorcyclists riding.

So what can you do? Here are some simple things that will keep everyone safe on the road.

For all drivers:

• Remember: A motorcyclist has the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as any other motorist on the roadway.
• Give a motorcyclist a full lane width to maneuver safely.
• Always look for motorcycles by checking your mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes. You can use your mouse to interact with the graphic to the right to see how easy it is for a motorcycle to go unnoticed.
• Motorcycles are smaller and more difficult to see, so keep an eye out.
• Allow more distance – three or four seconds – when following a motorcycle. This gives the motorcycle rider more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

For motorcyclists:

• Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed.
• Wear a helmet and use reflective tape and gear to be more visible.
• Never ride while impaired or distracted – it is not worth the risk of killing or injuring yourself or someone else. According to the NTHSA, more than 1/4 of all motorcyclists killed in 2018 were drunk.
• When it comes to riding a motorcycle, training and safety gear are critical. ADOT encourages all riders to take a state-authorized training course.

Now let's get out there and enjoy a nice (safe) spring!