PHOENIX – Football and traffic safety might not appear to have much in common. But the two converge at a critical connection: protection.

Consider that the safety gear worn by football players has the same purpose as a seat belt – help the wearer survive a violent collision.

So, it's no surprise that the Arizona Department of Transportation and Arizona Cardinals left tackle and Captain Jared Veldheer have partnered to promote the importance of wearing a seat belt with the Seat belts. For life. campaign. On Arizona roadways in 2015, there were 258 unrestrained occupant fatalities, which accounts for 29 percent of the people killed in traffic crashes that year. Lack of seat belt use is annually one of the leading factors in traffic deaths.

"I wouldn't play football without wearing a helmet and shoulder pads, and I won't drive my truck without wearing a seat belt," Veldheer said. "Being safe is being smart."

For the Seat belts. For life. campaign, two public service announcements were produced – "Strong Man" and "Safety Gear" – and each has a 30- and 15-second version. The PSAs can be viewed at azdot.gov, ADOT's social media channels – Facebook, Twitter and YouTube – and will also appear on television during the fall, thanks to ADOT's relationship with the Arizona Broadcasters Association.

ADOT is excited to partner with Veldheer and thanks him for volunteering his time for the Seat belts. For life. campaign. Working with the seven-year NFL pro on the subject of seat belts is a natural fit. His left tackle position protects the quarterback's blind side the same way a seat belt provides security against the unknown for vehicle occupants. In the past five years on Arizona roadways, there have been 1,205 unrestrained occupant fatalities.

"Buckling a seat belt is the easiest thing to do when you get in a car," ADOT Director John Halikowski said. "Its sole purpose is to help you survive a crash. Let the seat belt do its job – buckle up."

"More than one in 10 Arizonans don't wear a seat belt," added Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. "Needless tragedies continue because people aren't wearing a seat belt and parents need to make sure their children are properly restrained, too."

PHOENIX – In the past 10 days, two people working on state highways have been hit and killed by vehicles. These unnecessary and avoidable tragedies illustrate the need for drivers to pay attention in work zones and to give a safe margin of space to vehicles with flashing lights, such as tow trucks and emergency responders.

To remind drivers of the importance of paying attention to their surroundings, ADOT will display the following message this week on overhead signs statewide:

When traveling in work zones, drivers should expect the unexpected, as normal speed limits may be reduced and people may be working in the road. They also should slow down, keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and pay attention. Minimizing distractions could save a life.

Not only is it a safe practice to give space to emergency response vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks, tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles, it’s also the law. Arizona’s “Move Over” law requires motorists to move over one lane – or slow down if it is not safe to change lanes – when driving by any vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the side of the roadway.

Early Monday morning, a passenger car struck and killed an employee of a contractor working on an ADOT project as he removed barricades from Loop 101 Pima Freeway in Scottsdale. Earlier this month, a box truck hit and killed a tow company driver responding to a stalled vehicle on Interstate 10 near Benson.

PHOENIX – Don’t let a mortarboard be the last hat your young driver wears.

If historical trends hold, the square covers tossed in the air at commencement ceremonies could be the last caps worn by some recent graduates.

That’s because alcohol-related crashes involving drivers ages 16-24 spike in May, making it one of the most dangerous months for young drivers. Since 2010, during the month of May there have been 50 alcohol-related fatal crashes involving young drivers on Arizona roadways, according to data collected by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Everyone with a diploma knows the solution: don’t drink and drive. Designate a driver. Call a cab or rideshare service. Besides being life-threatening to drivers, passengers and innocents that share the road, a DUI is a terrible graduation gift.

In an effort to discourage drinking and driving among young drivers – and as a reminder to drivers of all ages – many of ADOT’s overhead signs throughout Arizona will display the following message this weekend:

GRADUATES:
SHOW YOUR SMARTS
DRIVE SOBER

Crashes of all kinds involving young drivers typically peak in October and November. But the largest totals of alcohol-related crashes involving young drivers are in March and May. Many variables contribute to this, but spring break and end-of-the-school-year celebrations are obvious factors. Impaired driving crashes involving young drivers occur at higher-than-average rates during the months of June and July, too.

PHOENIX – Drive. Just drive.

That’s the message the Arizona Department of Transportation is sending to those behind the wheel during National Distracted Driving Month.

Distracted driving kills thousands and injures hundreds of thousands in the United States each year. In 2015, at least 36 people were killed on Arizona roadways because of distracted driving. Those numbers are too high. Bringing them down is simple.

Just drive.

Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and mind engaged with driving. After all, your life is in your hands, so keep them free of distractions.

“Think about the last time you shook you head in wonder about a distracted driver killing or maiming innocent people because of the driver’s crazy-stupid behavior,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Please don’t be one of those people standing in front of the judge, facing prison and apologizing to a broken family about how you wish you could take it all back. Just drive and be part of the solution to bring the fatality numbers down.”

Distracted driving comes in many forms: eating a fast-food burger, applying mascara, smartphone use, toggling through a navigation system, twisting your neck toward the backseat to break up a sibling squabble and more. Yet, none of these activities are a driver’s primary responsibility as the operator of a one-ton, two-ton or heavier vehicle and each distraction makes a driver up to four times more likely to be involved in a crash, according to research cited by the Federal Highway Administration.

Just drive.

In 2015, nearly 8,000 distracted drivers were involved in crashes on Arizona roadways, according to preliminary data collected by ADOT. The data shows that young drivers (ages 16-24) engage in distracted driving at higher rates than older drivers, accounting for a third of all drivers engaging in distracting behavior that caused a crash.

Those startling and unnecessarily high numbers tell us one thing.

Drive. Just drive.

PHOENIX ‒ With the weekend forecast calling for gusty winds along with the possibility of snow in higher elevations, motorists should be on alert for adverse weather including blowing dust and limited visibility, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Even though monsoon season hasn’t started, blowing dust is possible throughout the year. ADOT’s safety tips for blowing dust, available at PullAsideStayAlive.org, include:

• Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.
• If you encounter a dust storm, check traffic immediately around your vehicle and begin slowing down.
• Pull off the roadway as soon as possible; don’t wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to do so safely.
• Completely exit the highway if possible, away from where other vehicles may travel; don’t stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane.
• Turn off all vehicle lights, including emergency flashers.
• Set the emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
• Stay in the vehicle with seat belts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.

Along with wind gusts and dust, drivers may encounter snow and icy roads in the high country, especially above 6,500 feet from Flagstaff through the Mogollon Rim. Motorists in these areas should leave prepared for winter conditions and pack an emergency road kit, including essential items such as a fully charged cellphone, food and water, and warmer clothes. For more winter driving tips, visit azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

For the most current information about highway conditions, closures and restrictions statewide, visit ADOT’s Travel Information Site at az511.gov or call 511. ADOT’s Twitter account (@ArizonaDOT) is another excellent resource.

PHOENIX – Flashing orange lights. Bright orange traffic cones. Striped barrels and barricades.

You’re entering a work zone.

What coincidental timing, too, because the Arizona Department of Transportation is marking the beginning of National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 11-15) today.

After slowing and merging near the start of the work zone, there’s the flagger with a stop/slow paddle and a fluorescent reflective vest strapped across his chest. Expertly moving traffic safely through the work zone all day, obey this person’s instructions – as ADOT’s work zone safety message declares, “The Vest Knows Best” – because lives, including yours, depend on it.

Up ahead, see that maintenance crew? The highway is their office, so please slow down and focus on the road. This ensures a safe work space for them and keeps you safe, too. That’s especially important because, statistically, motorists are far more likely to die in a work zone crash.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, drivers and passengers accounted for 82 percent of work zone fatalities nationally in 2014, the most recent year with complete data. In Arizona, the number of work zone deaths fell to 11 in 2014 after peaking at 17 in 2013. Despite this decrease in work zone fatalities, there is room for improvement

To achieve that, in conjunction with National Work Zone Awareness Week, ADOT is launching a work zone safety campaign, “The Vest Knows Best,” to protect motorists and those who build and maintain Arizona’s highways. Follow these tips when traveling through a work zone to keep everyone safe.

• Pay attention: Observe and obey posted warning signs, as well as flaggers. You can be cited for disobeying a flagger’s directions.
• Expect the unexpected: Speed limits might be lowered, travel lanes could be narrowed or eliminated and people may be working near your travel lane.
• Slow down: Speeding is one of the leading causes of work zone crashes.
• Merge safely: Do it early and carefully or as directed by signage instead of barging into a line of vehicles at the last moment.
• Don’t tailgate: The most common crash in a work zone is the rear-end collision. Don’t follow too closely and, again, slow your speed.

For more information about work zone safety, visit azdot.gov/workzone.