PHOENIX – With the remnants of Hurricane Rosa bringing a rainy forecast to Arizona this week, motorists should slow down, avoid tailgating and sudden braking, and expect the unexpected.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has safety tips available at azdot.gov/safety (follow the Weather link). Among them:

• Allow extra time to reach your destination safely; in heavy rain, consider delaying travel.
• Create a space cushion by reducing your speed and maintaining 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. To slow down, take your foot off the gas pedal and brake slowly.
• Avoid areas where water is pooling in travel lanes; if possible, use center lanes and drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.
• Stay alert for rocks knocked onto roadways by storm runoff on slopes.
• Before you drive, inspect your windshield wipers, and replace them if necessary.
• Turn on your headlights while driving.
• Be cautious of hydroplaning. This occurs when a thin layer of water accumulates between your tires and the asphalt and your vehicle loses contact with the roadway. You might suddenly feel your vehicle sliding or drifting because you’ve lost traction. If you feel you are hydroplaning, ease your foot off the gas pedal until you regain traction. Do not brake suddenly. If you are sliding or drifting, gently turn your steering wheel in the direction of your slide.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.

 

PHOENIX – The word likely makes you think of a state like Florida, but Arizona highway drivers should stay alert for “gators” on the highway, especially with summer upon us.

Gator is the nickname given to tire treads that wind up on highways after blowouts, creating a risk for other drivers and their vehicles.

The Arizona Department of Transportation and state Department of Public Safety are reminding motorists to stay alert to tire treads or other debris that can wind up on highways. Drivers also should regularly check their vehicles’ tire pressure to reduce the risk of blowouts.

Whether DPS troopers toss tire gators to the shoulder or ADOT maintenance crews respond after getting a call, it’s impossible to catch everything immediately along more than 6,300 miles of state highways.

“We all need to pay attention and be prepared for debris at any time, but tire gators increase in number when the weather turns hot,” said Raul Amavisca, ADOT Central District engineering administrator for maintenance. “Our maintenance yard bins fill up with more rubber during the summer.”

DPS is often are the first line of defense against gators, conducting traffic breaks to temporarily stop traffic so troopers can toss tire debris to the shoulder of a freeway.

“We also get to see the damage a large piece of tire tread can inflict on another vehicle,” DPS Capt. Tony Mapp said. “These can be dangerous situations, which makes it so important to avoid distractions and keep an eye on the roadway out in front of you.”

ADOT crews do spot pickups of roadside shoulder debris along busy Phoenix-area freeways throughout the year. The agency’s freeway shoulder sweeping contractors also maintain weekly schedules for collecting larger debris items in advance of street sweepers finishing the cleaning job at night.

Maintaining proper tire pressure to limit the chances of creating a highway gator.

“You’re improving your odds, since over- or under-inflated tires are more likely to suffer blowouts,” Captain Mapp said. “It’s worth it to take the time to check your tire pressure.”

PHOENIX – No more fatal crashes. Selfish drivers? This is on you.

“Crashes and vehicle fatalities are rising in Arizona and across the country,” said John Halikowski, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. “We know how to reverse the trend and it begins with drivers. Most drivers are responsible, but a few selfish ones drive drunk or high, drive like a madman or refuse to put down the phone. If you know a driver like that, please talk with them. When everyone begins making safe decisions behind the wheel, these preventable car-crash deaths will end.”

Halikowski is challenging drivers to engage in smarter and safer decisions and achieve zero traffic fatalities during Memorial Weekend. That hasn’t happened since at least 1971 – that’s how far back holiday weekend crash data is available – but fatalities over the long holiday weekend are trending downward. In 2015, there were 11 fatal crashes on all roadways in Arizona, including six fatal crashes related to alcohol. The number of fatal crashes fell to seven in 2016 and then five in 2017. Last year, alcohol played a role in only one fatal crash during Memorial Day Weekend.

That’s a credit to the work done by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies on holiday DUI enforcement campaigns.

“We’re moving in the right direction, but too many people are choosing to drive impaired,” said Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. “There are many other ways to get home instead of driving drunk. Plan ahead so you can get home safely. The cost of a cab or rideshare is far less than a DUI.”

Additionally, ADOT and AZDPS are emphasizing safety in three holiday high-traffic zones: Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and Flagstaff, Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson and State Route 87 between Mesa and Payson. Along those routes, ADOT crews will strategically stage equipment, such as loaders and utility trucks, minimizing travel delays with faster response times to crashes and stalled vehicles. Speed limits will be lowered on the windy stretch of I-17 between New River and Sunset Point Rest Area during peak holiday travel periods.State troopers will also focus on preventing three of the leading causes of traffic deaths: speeding, impaired driving and lack of seat belt use.

“So far this year we have lost 136 people to fatal collisions on Arizona highways, a 24 percent increase from the same time frame last year. This Memorial Day Weekend our troopers will be patrolling throughout the state enforcing speed limits, looking for distracted and aggressive drivers, and targeting impaired drivers,” said Col. Frank Milstead, AZDPS director. “I am calling on the public to be safe and smart this holiday weekend. Safe roads this holiday weekend begin with you. Your actions can save lives. Give yourself extra time, slow down, buckle your seatbelt, and don’t drive impaired.”

Buckling a seat belt is the first and easiest thing a driver or passenger can do to be safe in a vehicle. Nearly 90 percent of Arizonans buckle up, but unbelted occupants account for about 25 percent of all crash fatalities annually. And don’t forget to put children in the proper child safety seat.

To help make sure Arizonans are buckled up, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety is partnering with law enforcement agencies around the state to enforce Arizona’s seat belt and child safety seat laws. The campaign will run through June 3.

Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, advises that anyone who is planning to travel in a vehicle to follow a few guidelines to ensure a safe trip for themselves and their families.

“As parents we lead by example, so it’s important that we always wear a seat belt when driving,” Dr. Christ said. “Children need to ride in a car safety seat. Parents should follow the car seat recommendations to ensure their child is in the right seat for their age and that the seat is used properly. Children 12 and under should always ride in the back seat and must wear a seat belt at all times.”

Because this is one of the most heavily-traveled weekends of the year, Halikowski encourages motorists to plan ahead. In addition to packing extra water and snacks – in case an unexpected delay occurs – he’s urging drivers to think now about what they can do to have a safe trip this weekend.

“Make a driving plan for the weekend,” Halikowski said. “Figure out how you are going to avoid drinking and driving, don’t text and drive and exercise patience on the road.”

PHOENIX – With summer temperatures at hand and the landscape extremely dry across Arizona, dragging chains, tossing cigarette butts or even having underinflated tires can start fires along state highways.

To get ready for fire season, Arizona Department of Transportation crews mow vegetation along highway shoulders in the winter and spring. They remove brush, thin trees and spray fire retardant within the ADOT right-of-way to prevent fires and slow the spread of those that occur.

But motorists have an important role as well, including not tossing burning cigarettes that can tumble or be blown into grass and brush. Here are other ways motorists can help cut down on sparks that lead to fires:

• Dragging chains during towing can cause sparks. Check and secure tow chains, and never substitute parts when towing.
• Make sure nothing is hanging beneath your vehicle and dragging on the pavement.
• Check tire pressure before you travel. Exposed wheel rims can cause sparks.
• Don’t park in tall grass, as the heat from parts under your vehicle can start a fire.

Besides the obvious danger to lives, property and the landscape, fires can snarl traffic as firefighters work along the highway and also can lead to lengthy closures. On April 25, for example, a rider whose motorcycle caught fire pulled into brush along eastbound Interstate 40 between US 93 and Seligman, igniting a fire that temporarily closed the freeway while firefighters managed to limit it to 6 acres.

“Each of us can do some simple things to cut down on the risk of fires along state highways, starting with checking tire pressure and making sure vehicles and trailers aren’t dragging something that can produce sparks,” said Dallas Hammit, ADOT’s state engineer and deputy director for transportation. “On the road, please use common sense. One burning cigarette flying out a car window can start a wildfire.”

According to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, dragging chains is one of the main causes of fires along highways including Interstate 17 heading into and out of the Phoenix area. On May 9, for example, dragging chains caused five brush fires along 8 miles of US 191 south of Safford. Fast action by firefighters prevented the fires from spreading beyond a tenth of an acre each.

“We continue to get multiple fire starts along Arizona's highways due to unsecured chains,” said Tiffany Davila, public affairs officer for the Department of Forestry and Fire Management. “The drought conditions and dry fuels equate to very high fire danger across the state. One spark is really all it can take to start a fast-moving wildfire.”

ADOT participates in the “One Less Spark One Less Wildfire” campaign the U.S. Forest Service and other land management agencies launched to focus on the role drivers and homeowners play in preventing wildfires.

PHOENIX – The votes are in and Arizonans have selected the winners of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Safety Message Contest.

After tallying more than 2,500 votes for the 15 safety message finalists, the winning messages are:

BUCKLE UP
BUTTERCUP

 

ROAD RAGE
GIVES YOU
WRINKLES

 

CAMPING IN THE
LEFT LANE
ATTRACTS BEARS

 

“Buckle up, buttercup,” received the most votes and the other two tied for runner-up. All three messages will appear on overhead signs statewide through the weekend.

“It was very heartening to see so many people engaging with safe-driving messages during the contest ,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “The purpose of placing these safety messages on overhead signs is to start conversation that will improve driver behavior and make the roads safer for all of us.”

Winners have been invited to ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center where they’ll have the opportunity to type their messages into the system and see them displayed on overhead messages boards.

“Buckle up, buttercup” appeared on multiple contest entries, including four submissions that included information that allowed winners to be contacted. They are: Tasha Anderson of Youngtown; Susan Henry of Glendale; Dianna Schoening of Peoria; and Lily Hutt of Cave Creek.

Sterling Gavette of Phoenix submitted “Camping in the left lane attracts bears,” and Christina Healy of Prescott Valley authored, “Road rage gives you wrinkles.”

Displaying traffic safety messages on overhead signs is one way that ADOT and other traffic safety stakeholders in Arizona are trying to change driver behavior. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 90 percent of vehicle collisions are caused by driver decisions, including choosing to speed, drive recklessly, distracted or impaired.