Snowballs and safety: Why you shouldn't park along highways to play in the snow
Snowballs and safety: Why you shouldn't park along highways to play in the snow
December 21, 2016
By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications
We understand the temptation, but the highway shoulder is NOT a safe place to pull over and play in the snow.
That may seem obvious, but it’s a common mistake people make when heading up north for a day of snow play. As we shared this week, parking along I-17, US 180 or another highway imperils you, your traveling companions, other motorists and first responders.
Among the hazards:
Other drivers may be distracted by your vehicle.
Other drivers may pull over as well to play in the snow, compounding the problem.
Your vehicle may interfere with first responders who need to use the shoulder.
As shown above, ADOT plows can throw snow and ice far off highways. You don’t want you or your kids hit by the wave from a snowplow. Trust us.
For safety, exit and re-enter highways from on- and off-ramps and other designated entrances. Then park in designated places.
We want your trip to the high country to be fun and memorable. That starts with how you prepare (see azdot.gov/KnowSnow for tips) and continues with where you park.
Why there's zero tolerance for violations in new safety corridors
Why there's zero tolerance for violations in new safety corridors
December 12, 2016
By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications
You'll see new signs along two stretches of highway beginning this week – and more are on the way – designating Safety Corridors.
As we shared in our news release, these signs are accompanied by others noting that there will be zero tolerance for violations.
The video above notes the simple reason for Safety Corridors: ADOT, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety want to reduce crashes, severe injuries and fatalities, and getting drivers to focus on speed limits and other rules of the road is a way to do that.
To create Safety Corridors, ADOT and its partners reviewed historic crash data related to driver behavior and sought input from law enforcement.
Each phase of the Safety Corridor rollout focuses on an urban and a rural highway segment:
In the first phase underway this week, signs are going up on four miles from the I-17 Stack to SR 51/Loop 202 Red Mountain Mini-Stack and on 23 miles of I-10 between the Loop 202 Santan Freeway and State Route 187.
The second phase will involve 13 miles of US 60 from the Loop 101 Price Freeway to the Loop 202 and 23 miles of I-40 from Kingman east to US 93.
A grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety helped support establishing these Safety Corridors.
Driving Safety Home: Your decisions are key with winter at hand
Driving Safety Home: Your decisions are key with winter at hand
December 8, 2016
Winter Roads
By Dallas Hammit / ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation
ADOT crews are ready for what’s ahead this winter. In fact, they prepare year round for the snow and ice. The agency has 400 commercially licensed snowplow drivers and nearly 200 snowplows in its fleet.
While the work those snowplow drivers do is vital for keeping our roads drivable and safe all season, the decisions everyone else makes on the road are equally important.
Please take a moment to review the safety tips below and be sure to share with family and friends.
Slow Down and Leave Extra Room: Adjust your speed to conditions. Driving slower and leaving space between your vehicle and others when snow and ice are present can improve your ability to brake and prevent skids.
Leave Prepared: Dress for cold weather, bring extra clothes and gloves, be sure your cellphone is charged, and pack food, water and necessary medications. Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition, starting with the battery, heater/defroster, wiper blades, wiper fluid and brakes.
Pack an Emergency Kit: For starters, take blankets, a flashlight, an ice scraper, a small shovel, a container of sand for traction and hazard lights or reflectors in case your vehicle becomes disabled.Beware of Black Ice: Black ice tends to form at night when melting snow freezes and is especially common on bridges.
Stay Up to Date: Visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 to get the latest highway conditions, and pay attention to messages on overhead boards. ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) is an excellent source of information and answers about highway conditions.
Please find more winter driving information, including videos, infographics and blog posts at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.
Drivers are key to reducing I-17 crashes, closures north of Phoenix
Drivers are key to reducing I-17 crashes, closures north of Phoenix
November 21, 2016
PHOENIX – As the Arizona Department of Transportation seeks to identify and fund projects that will increase capacity on Interstate 17 north of Phoenix, drivers need to do their part by avoiding the poor decisions and inattention behind so many of the crashes that result in closures and backups – and worse, injuries and fatalities.
The steep, winding stretch of I-17 between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point is one of ADOT’s priorities for improvements.
But ADOT Director John Halikowski says no widening project or highway safety measure can be as effective as drivers obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions and driving with patience. A recent analysis found that the driver violation cited in more than 40 percent of I-17 crashes in the Black Canyon City area was “speed too fast for conditions.”
“We drive these highways too and care deeply not only about the time motorists lose in delays but the toll in injuries and lives lost due to speeding and driver inattention,” Halikowski said. “We’re committed to improving traffic flow and enhancing safety on I-17 and won’t stop until we get this done. But we can’t ignore driver behavior. We can all get home sooner and safely if we work together to avoid crashes.”
A recent safety message on ADOT’s overhead highway sign network sums up this approach: Control yourself, control your vehicle, save lives.
“Always drive defensively,” said Alberto Gutier, director of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “Being constantly aware of your surroundings and the actions of other motorists is especially important in this stretch of I-17, which can see heavy traffic and demands a driver’s complete attention."
Col. Frank Milstead, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, said everyone in a vehicle should promote safe driving.
“Passengers, be a good co-pilot, don’t allow your driver to disregard our traffic laws and drive distracted,” Milstead said. “Encourage them to focus on safe, unselfish driving. Otherwise, they may unexpectedly meet one of our troopers during a traffic stop or collision investigation.”
ADOT will launch an I-17 safety project in 2017 focused on the area between New River Road and Sunset Point Rest Area. The project will add several electronic “speed feedback” signs with digital displays that show drivers how fast they are traveling compared to the speed limit. New signs alerting drivers to highway curves will be installed, along with four overhead message signs to inform drivers of traffic conditions.
"I-17 is vital for passenger and commercial traffic between Phoenix and northern Arizona communities," Halikowski said. "We’re determined to identify options to increase capacity in that stretch of I-17 while also working with DPS, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and other agencies to emphasize what drivers can do to improve safety."
What to do after a non-injury, fender bender collision
What to do after a non-injury, fender bender collision
November 16, 2016
PHOENIX – If you’re involved in a freeway fender bender, the misconception that it’s best to stay put can leave you in danger, create hazardous slowing and lane changes for all drivers, and increase risks for emergency responders.
That’s why the Arizona Department of Transportation and Arizona Department of Public Safety need you to know about the practice of Quick Clearance, in which drivers involved in minor crashes that don’t involve injuries get their vehicles out of travel lanes as soon as it’s safe to do so.
No one wants to be in this situation, but with a vehicle crash occurring almost every five minutes in Arizona, everyone should know how best to stay safe following a minor, non-injury collision.
Reasons for practicing Quick Clearance begin with a state law that requires a driver involved in a minor crash without injuries to remove a vehicle from the roadway if it is operable and can be moved safely. Doing this is safer for drivers involved in the crash, fellow motorists and emergency responders.
“Many drivers have been taught not to move their vehicles until law enforcement arrives on scene, but that is not correct,” said DPS Sgt. John Paul Cartier. “Every traffic incident management principle confirms drivers can greatly impact safety, reduce congestion and reduce secondary collisions. Drivers who comply with Quick Clearance state law make a positive difference in many lives.”
Quickly moving your vehicle out of travel lanes provides a safer environment to inspect your car for damage. Moving your vehicle to the emergency shoulder, median or exiting the highway also provides a safer environment for first responders and keeps travel lanes clear for other vehicles, reducing the chance of a secondary collision. Of the 29 DPS troopers killed in the line of duty, 11 were struck and killed in secondary crashes on state highways.
ADOT and DPS are promoting Quick Clearance as part of a nationwide effort among transportation, law enforcement and other first responder agencies and organizations as part of National Traffic Incident Management Week (Nov. 13-19). On Wednesday and Thursday, many overhead highway signs statewide will display the following message:
FENDER BENDER?
SAVE YOUR REAR
AND QUICKLY CLEAR
If you are involved in a crash, the first action to take is to make sure you and occupants in your vehicle are OK. Then, if your vehicle is operable, move to the emergency shoulder, median or exit the highway and call 911. Stay out of travel lanes, be alert and watch approaching traffic. Remember: Never leave the scene of a crash.
Driving Safety Home: Pay attention and share the road
Driving Safety Home: Pay attention and share the road
October 6, 2016
Bicyclists sharing the roadway
By Dallas Hammit / ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation
It’s that time of year again – temperatures are beginning to cool, students have gone back to school and extra events are on schedule as we head toward the holidays. It’s also when we start seeing more pedestrians and cyclists take to the streets.
That makes now the perfect time for all of us to review and improve our habits when it comes to sharing the road.
According to ADOT’s Crash Facts Report, the number of pedestrians killed in Arizona crashes rose to 161 in 2015 from 155 the year before. In this state, 29 bicyclists died in crashes during 2015 and in total, there were 1,399 crashes involving pedestrians and 1,434 that involved bicycles.
The statistics show that all of us – motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists – need to take precautions and remember how vital it is to share the road with each other.
There are a number of resources online that’ll give you guidelines and safety tips for sharing the road safely and legally. Two good ones are both on ADOT’s website. “Sharing the Road with Pedestrians” and “Share the Road” each cover a number of different situations and show actions to help us avoid a collision.
While there’s not enough room in this message to cover every safety scenario, I do want to highlight one safety tip that, when followed, serves drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists: Pay attention and be aware of your surroundings.
All travelers are better off when drivers put down their cell phone and pay attention to the road. Using your phone for texting or talking while driving takes your focus off the job at hand, which is to safely operate your vehicle. Bicyclists and pedestrians also need to be aware of their surroundings – headphones and cell phones cause distractions and can reduce your ability to hear traffic.
As always, I hope you’ll think about your own habits and take the opportunity to talk with your loved ones – especially any students in your household – about this topic. Encourage them to make safe decisions.
Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.
Spanish blog: ¡La importancia del cinturón de seguridad y asiento de seguridad para nuestros hijos!
Spanish blog: ¡La importancia del cinturón de seguridad y asiento de seguridad para nuestros hijos!
September 22, 2016
Child Passenger Safety Week is Sept. 18-24. Today’s blog, for our Spanish-speaking audience, reminds us how important seat belts are for our teens and that smaller children also need to be properly restrained.
By Lourdes Lerma / ADOT Communications
¿Cuántas veces hemos llevado a nuestros hijos en el vehículo sin protegerlos?
Usted se preguntará… ¿Cómo que sin protegerlos?
Sí, sin protegerlos en un asiento de seguridad diseñado exclusivamente para niños de acuerdo a su edad.
Muy a menudo escuchamos de accidentes de vehículos en dónde desafortunadamente pierden la vida niños inocentes, que por culpa de un adulto descuidado, no iban sentados en un asiento de seguridad.
¿Sabía usted que la ley de Arizona establece que “Cada persona que viaje en un vehículo, debe traer puesto el cinturón de seguridad, y que el conductor del vehículo debe exigir a sus pasajeros menores de 16 años que cumplan con esta regla?
Muchas veces, los niños quieren probar el nivel de su autoridad y nos desafían diciendo que no se pueden poner el cinturón porque está muy apretado, porque están cansados y quieren recostarse en el asiento del vehículo o por otras excusas más… y los padres, porque los queremos mucho, y porque queremos que nuestros niños vayan “cómodos”… se les permite ¡viajar sin cinturón de seguridad!
Los cinturones de seguridad en los vehículos no están diseñados para niños, es por eso que los niños deben viajar en un asiento de seguridad de acuerdo a su edad; existe uno especial para los niños de 5 a 8 años llamado “Asiento con elevador o Booster” y lo deben usar hasta que el niño tenga una estatura de por lo menos 4 pies 9 pulgadas o un metro y medio.
Usted puede salvar la vida de un niño. Si usted ve que un niño no tiene abrochado el cinturón de seguridad en un vehículo en movimiento, por favor llame al 1.800.505.2229 y reporte el número de placa del vehículo, ciudad y ubicación del niño en el vehículo.
Las bolsas de aire en los vehículos pueden salvar vidas y prevenir lesiones graves. Deben ser utilizadas junto con los cinturones de seguridad. Los niños menores de 12 años de edad nunca deben ir en el asiento delantero del vehículo. Si por alguna razón un niño debe viajar en el asiento delantero, por favor desactive la bolsa de aire del asiento del acompañante.
Como padres, con nuestro ejemplo, más que con las palabras, les enseñamos a nuestros hijos a vivir de la manera correcta; pero en muchos casos, hay padres de familia que les dicen a sus hijos que deben usar el cinturón de seguridad cuando ellos nunca se lo ponen. Como padre de familia empiece a tener la responsabilidad de enseñar a sus hijos con el buen ejemplo y cada vez que vaya a manejar, ponga a sus niños en su asiento de seguridad si ellos son pequeños, y póngase usted el cinturón de seguridad antes de empezar a mover el vehículo.
En este mes, muchos jóvenes iniciarán o regresarán a la High School, Colegio o Universidad. Recuérdele a sus hijos que usted los ama mucho y quiere que lleguen a casa seguros. Pídales que por favor usen el cinturón de seguridad y que no tomen y manejen.
En el Internet usted puede encontrar muchos videos sobre lo que ocasiona el no usar el cinturón de seguridad y muchos de ellos lo impresionarán. Haga que sus hijos vean algunos de estos videos, posiblemente le ayudarán a tomar mejores decisiones.
No importa si ellos manejan o no, el simple hecho de transportarse en un vehículo deben sentir la obligación de usar el cinturón de seguridad.
¿Sabía usted que si un pasajero viajando en el asiento trasero no tiene puesto el cinturón de seguridad, en el momento de un choque esta persona puede salir disparada y golpear a la persona que viaja en el asiento de enfrente? ¡Las consecuencias pueden ser fatales!
Las estadísticas muestran que si en un vehículo viajan dos personas; una lleva puesto el cinturón de seguridad, pero la otra no, esa persona por no traer puesto su cinturón al momento de un choque, puede causarle la muerte o daño permanente a la persona que sí trae puesto su cinturón.
Hable con sus hijos y dígales que siempre que vayan a transportarse en un vehículo, esté usted o no con ellos, deben ponerse el cinturón de seguridad y exigir a las otras personas que viajan con ellos, que también deben ponérselo para prevenir fatalidades en caso de un accidente.
¡Recuerde, siempre es mejor prevenir que lamentar!
Siempre será mejor decir: “Te lo dije”, que estar llorando y decir: “Debí decírselo”.
Spanish Blog Series To better serve Arizona’s Spanish-speaking community, our occasional Spanish blog series covers all aspects of transportation including safety and the Motor Vehicle Division.
ADOT’s overhead message boards are carrying a special message for the busy Labor Day weekend, traditionally one of the deadliest times on Arizona roadways. ADOT hopes to make this weekend one with zero fatalities.
Drivers will see the following message along holiday travel corridors:
HOLIDAY TRAVEL
CORRIDOR
STAY ALERT/NO SPEEDING/BUCKLE UP
Holiday travel corridors are highly traveled state highways with additional officers and ADOT personnel on hand to encourage safety and handle any crashes that may occur. The holiday travel corridors are Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and Flagstaff, Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, and SR 87 between Mesa and Payson.
ADOT has positioned heavy equipment, trucks and crews along holiday corridors starting. Front loaders and incident-response trucks are stationed along I-17 near Anthem, I-10 near Queen Creek Road southeast of Phoenix and along State Route 87 north of Fountain Hills.
If you are traveling this weekend, leave prepared:
Check your vehicle, including tire pressure, before you leave.
Get a good night’s rest before heading out on a trip.
Buckle up.
Obey posted speed limits.
Avoid the busiest travel times, often Friday and Monday afternoons, if possible.
Never drive while impaired. Arrange for a designated driver in advance.
Be prepared for unexpected closures as well as changing weather conditions, including blowing dust and thunderstorms.
Pack extra drinking water and snack foods in case traffic is stopped due to a crash or disabled vehicle up ahead.
New ADOT policy allows approved memorials along highways
New ADOT policy allows approved memorials along highways
August 29, 2016
PHOENIX ‒ Recognizing the need of families to grieve in different ways for those killed in crashes, the Arizona Department of Transportation has established a policy allowing memorial markers along state-maintained highways in a way that minimizes risks for motorists, families and ADOT personnel.
Developed with input from community members, the policy specifies a maximum size and establishes standards for materials and placement so markers present less chance of distracting passing drivers or damaging vehicles leaving the roadway.
“We have heard the concerns shared with us and developed this way for families to honor loved ones, and we’ve done it in a way that promotes safety,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Those who have already placed memorials can work with us to keep tributes that meet these requirements and to replace those that don’t.”
A family or its designee should submit a request to the ADOT engineering and maintenance district serving a particular area, providing the intended design and location of a marker honoring a relative killed in a crash. District officials will review requests to make sure they meet requirements including:
Size and materials: A marker may be up to 30 inches high and 18 inches wide, and the wood or plastic/composite material components used to create it may be up to 2 inches thick and 4 inches wide. It may include a plaque up to 4 inches by 4 inches and up to 1/16 of an inch thick. It may be anchored up to 12 inches in the ground, but not in concrete or metal footings.
Placement: In consultation with ADOT officials, families will place markers as close as possible to the outer edge of the highway right of way. Markers may only be placed in front of developed property if the property owner gives written permission to the family.
Memorials already along highways may remain if they meet safety standards for placement, size and materials. However, those who placed them must contact the ADOT district office serving that area and identify themselves as contacts should the memorials ever have to be moved.
Memorials that haven’t been approved by ADOT or that don’t meet the policy’s safety standards for placement, size and materials will be tagged with notices giving those who placed them 60 days to remove the items. After that, the memorials will be removed after ADOT personnel document and photograph their contents and leave a notice saying where the memorial items may be picked up.
ADOT will continue to remove without notice any memorial that presents a hazard and will leave notice of where the items can be picked up.
Memorials that are removed will be stored for at least 60 days at the nearest ADOT maintenance yard.
More information on roadside memorials and contact information for ADOT engineering and maintenance districts is available at azdot.gov/memorials.
ADOT kicks off safety campaign with Arizona Cardinals player Jared Veldheer
ADOT kicks off safety campaign with Arizona Cardinals player Jared Veldheer
July 28, 2016
By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications
ADOT launches its “Seat belts. For life.” campaign today. Did you know that of the 895 people that died in traffic crashes in 2015 in Arizona, 258 weren't wearing a seat belt? Buckling up could have saved many of those lives.
We are thrilled to partner with Arizona Cardinals left tackle and team captain Jared Veldheer and thank him for volunteering his time to promote the importance of wearing a seat belt. Football and traffic safety might not appear to have much in common. But consider that the safety gear worn by football players has the same purpose as a seat belt – help the wearer survive a violent collision.
