By Dallas Hammit
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation

Sharing the road needs to be a focus year-round, and right now, as many children head back to school, it’s the perfect time for all of us (motorists, pedestrians and cyclists) to review and improve our habits.

Luckily, there are a number of resources available offering guidelines and safety tips that illustrate how each of us can safely and legally share the road.

“Sharing the Road with Pedestrians” and “Share the Road” are both available on the ADOT website and each publication offers up a comprehensive look at how to be safer out on the road. The guides give rules for several different scenarios and also provide information on Arizona traffic laws.

The National Center for Safe Routes to School website includes good tips for walking to school safely – parents should review it and share it with their children. This article from the National Safety Council is another one that’s focused on back-to-school safety tips for motorists and students.

Last year in Arizona, there were more than 1,500 pedestrian-involved crashes and about 1,700 that involved cyclists. Combined, those crashes resulted in 185 fatalities and more than 2,500 people who were injured.

The statistics remind us just how crucial it is for everyone to do their part. To get those numbers down, we all need to pay attention, stay alert and share the road.

By Dallas Hammit
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation

The goal for these monthly messages is to enhance awareness about transportation-safety issues, and when it comes to choosing topics, I find a lot of value in highlighting subjects that many drivers might be unfamiliar with. Traffic Incident Management (TIM) falls into that category.

While some people reading this are very knowledgeable on the subject, most motorists aren’t aware of the methods employed by first responders to quickly and efficiently clear crash scenes. Drivers also might not realize why TIM is so critical.

TIM, defined in the Strategic Highway Safety Plan as “the coordinated process to identify, respond to and clear traffic incidents to prevent secondary collisions and reduce the duration of incident-related congestion,” promotes consistent training for responders and focuses on safety and the efficient clearance of incidents.

TIM is valuable because every minute counts when responding to the scene of a traffic incident. Consider this: according to our partners at the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), national statistics show that for every minute a vehicle is sitting adjacent to the travel lane or on the shoulder, the risk of a secondary crash increases by 2.8 percent.

Those secondary crashes are often more severe than the initial incident, which is why the effort behind TIM is so significant. It’s also why a wide variety of ADOT employees have gone through the four-hour TIM responder course.

In addition to training, ADOT has a partnership with DPS, the Federal Highway Administration and the Maricopa Association of Governments that places state troopers at the ADOT Traffic Operations Center for a faster response, with the goal of reducing congestion and improving safety statewide.

All of this coordination is making a difference, and as drivers, we appreciate the efforts of all responders, including law enforcement, fire/EMS personnel, tow-truck drivers and ADOT’s Arizona Local Emergency Response Team (ALERT). The best way to show that appreciation is to slow down and Move Over when you see flashing lights. It’s not just a courtesy – it’s the law. Arizona’s Move Over law requires all drivers to move over one lane, or slow down and use caution, when passing any vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the side of any road or highway.

The next time you’re Moving Over, I hope you’ll think of all the people who are out there, putting into practice the TIM principles and working together to safely clear the road.

Red means STOP!

It’s the rule of the road most of us were taught first, long before we ever learned to drive.

Simple and straightforward, a red light means you’ve got to stop (and stay stopped for as long as the light stays red). That applies whether you’re driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle or walking…

Unfortunately, red-light running is an issue across the country, and the consequences can be deadly. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that in 2013, 697 people nationwide were killed in crashes that involved red-light running. According to the Federal Highway Association, an estimated 165,000 people are injured annually by red-light running.

ADOT’s 2014 Crash Facts Report shows that there were at least 26 fatal crashes in Arizona last year in which drivers were cited for disregarding a traffic signal, such as running a red light, and 20 additional fatal crashes when drivers were cited for ignoring a stop sign. There were at least 2,653 crashes that resulted in injuries because a driver failed to stop at a red light or a stop sign.

Those numbers are why National Stop on Red Week takes place the first week of August every year to bring attention to this serious safety issue.

For our part, we’d like to remind everyone to pay attention and focus on safe driving behaviors on the road. That includes stopping at red lights and stop signs, buckling up, obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions and never driving while impaired.

By obeying traffic signals, you’re not only keeping yourself and others safe, you’re also saving time and money.

If you run a red light (or a flashing red light) and receive a traffic citation, upon conviction of that violation you will be required to attend Traffic Survival School (TSS). MVD is required by law to order the completion of TSS for every red light conviction reported by the courts. Failure to complete the course results in an indefinite suspension of your driving privilege. You can read more about the penalties and fines associated with red-light running on our website.

Finally, since we’re on the subject of traffic signals, you might want to review what the different lights indicate. For example, a yellow light does NOT mean you should speed up to “beat the light” – that’s actually illegal and can cause a crash. For a refresher on what each light, arrow and flashing signal mean, take a look at this section from the Arizona Driver License Manual.

“Crashes caused by drivers who ignore red lights and stop signs are among the easiest to prevent,” Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski said at the start of National Stop on Red Week. “All it takes is for drivers to slow down, put distractions away and remember that red means stop.”

We know you Know Snow and that you’re Pulling Aside to Stay Alive, but are you also taking the proper precautions when it comes to driving in high temperatures?

Even if you’re an Arizonan who is used to the desert’s extreme heat, you cannot ignore hot weather’s potential danger. Taking time to prepare for the scorching summer days ahead is essential and could possibly save a life.

To help prep you and your vehicle for elevated temperatures, here are some safety steps to consider…

Before You Travel

• Plan your travel route in advance and be sure to notify someone of your route, destination and projected arrival time.
• Fill your fuel tank and try to keep it at three-quarters full. Running out of gas — especially in a remote location — is extremely dangerous in extreme heat.
• Before you hit the road, you can visit az511.gov or dial 511 for updated road and weather conditions.

Preparing Your Vehicle

• Always carry extra water – enough for the driver, passengers and pets.
• Heat can zap your battery. Consider having it tested, especially if it’s more than three years old.
• Check engine coolant levels and add coolant if necessary. Note: Never remove your vehicle’s radiator cap when the engine is hot. It might also be time to have your air conditioning system checked.
• Check engine belts and the oil level. A broken belt can lead to an uncomfortable breakdown along the highway.
• Traveling with under- or over-inflated tires on hot pavement can lead to a blowout. Make sure your tire pressure is at the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level. Remember to check the spare tire too.
• Check your windshield wiper blades and replace them if necessary, so they’ll work if you encounter monsoon weather.
• Prepare a “to-go” travel pack that includes a cell phone charger, hat, sunscreen, first aid kit, sunglasses, flashlight with extra batteries, snacks and, yes, a road map that can provide possible alternate routes.

Crashes or Other Situations Requiring Emergency Assistance

• Dial 911.
• If possible, move the vehicle out the travel lanes into a safe area.
• Try to find shade for everyone; stay out of direct sunlight.
• Attend to all medical needs in a safe, shaded place if possible; also, find a safe place to call for roadside assistance.
• If your vehicle becomes nonoperational, raising the front hood and activating its flashing "hazard lights" signal to other drivers and emergency responders that it is disabled.

Stalled or Stopped Vehicles

• Call for assistance right away to reduce your wait time.
• Keep your vehicle in a shaded area if possible and run the air conditioner (A/C). If the A/C is not working, roll down all the windows.
• DRINK WATER. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays hydrated.
• Without air conditioning, the temperature inside a stopped vehicle can rise to a dangerous (even deadly) level rather quickly. If temperatures inside the vehicle become too hot, carefully exit all passengers, including pets. Seek out or create a shaded area as far away from the travel lanes as possible.
• Raise the front hood of the vehicle and turn on flashing "hazard lights."

Exiting Your Vehicle

• Use caution! The road surface will be hot and can burn skin. Keep shoes on; carry pets or otherwise keep their paws off the hot asphalt.
• DRINK WATER. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays hydrated.
• Be alert to the hazards of moving traffic.
• Do not stand in travel lanes. Many Arizona roadways have wide shoulders, so use the extra space to create a safe distance between moving traffic and you, your passengers and your vehicle.
• Find or create shade for all passengers, including pets. Keep everyone out of direct sunlight. If pets are in carriers, keep them in the shade and be sure carriers have ample ventilation.
• Protect passengers from sunburn; apply sunscreen, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and put on loose-fitting, light-colored cotton clothing.

You can find additional information and travel tips on our Transportation Safety and Weather page.

By Doug Pacey
ADOT Office of Public Information

Monsoon season is upon Arizona. The powerful, ear-splitting thunderstorms don’t always arrive alone, though. Sometimes, they’re preceded by towering, blackout-inducing dust storms, also known as “haboobs.”

Dust storms can be extremely dangerous for motorists and the Arizona Department of Transportation is serious about dust storm safety.

ADOT’s “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” dust storm awareness campaign urges motorists to avoid driving into a dust storm. If a dust storm is in the far-off distance, do not drive toward it. If it is immediately ahead, slow down, pull off the highway as far as possible, turn off all vehicle lights (including emergency flashers and brake lights so other vehicles do not follow) and wait until the storm passes.

We want this information to stay with you, especially when you’re in your vehicle. So, we created a dust storm playlist. Load it onto your smartphone, stream it on Spotify, upload it to the cloud or burn a CD – people still do that, right? – then crank up your car stereo and rock out to the not-so-underlying musical messages of dust storm safety.

ADOT’s Dust Storm Playlist

1. “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” – The Clash
When it comes to dust storms, always stay and never go.

2. “I Will Wait” – Mumford & Sons
Actual lyrics:
These days of dust
Which we’ve known
Will blow away with this new sun
So, be like Mumford and wait.

3. “Stayin’ Alive” – Bee Gees
In our hearts, we believe Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb pulled aside to write “Stayin’ Alive.”

4. “Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon Jovi
So what if you’re “halfway there?” Drive into a haboob and you will be livin’ on a prayer.

5. “Danger Zone” – Kenny Loggins
You want to take the highway to the danger zone? That’s a negative, Ghost Rider.

6. “All You had to do was Stay” – Taylor Swift
Stay put. Seriously, that’s all you have to do.

7. “Dust in the Wind” – Kansas
It’s mandatory for a song about dust to be included in a dust storm playlist, right?

8. “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” – Billy Ray Cyrus
Our achy, breaky heart will shatter if you don’t heed our “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” advice.

9. “Sandstorm” – Darude
Resist the urge to crack open the glow sticks from your vehicle’s emergency kit – remember, no lights! – when listening to this awesomely titled Finnish trance music.

Bonus Track
10. “Sasquatch” – The Winebottles
You never know where Bigfoot might pop up.

The official National Weather Service Arizona monsoon period, which runs June 15 to September 30, brings a variety of travel concerns in addition to dust storms, including flash flooding, rain-slicked roads and high winds. When adverse weather conditions are present, ADOT urges motorists to drive with caution or delay travel. For more information, please visit ADOT’s Transportation Safety page.

ADOT’s annual Crash Facts report is out for 2014 and the newest statistics show that the number of motor-vehicle crash fatalities across the state dropped by nearly 9 percent…

While it’s certainly encouraging to see that number drop, ADOT’s director and leaders of other public safety agencies urge a continued focus on safe-driving behaviors – you can read what they’re saying in this ADOT news release.

According to the 2014 report, 774 people were killed last year on state and local highways and streets, compared to 849 fatalities in 2013. The highest annual number of motor-vehicle crash fatalities in Arizona – 1,301 – occurred in 2006 (view previous reports on our website).

While fatal crashes and deaths went down last year, the report shows an increase in all crashes. A total of 109,554 crashes occurred across Arizona in 2014, an increase of almost 2 percent compared to 2013 (107,477 crashes). There were 708 fatal crashes in the state last year, compared to 782 in 2013.

The annual figures also show fewer motorcycle riders or passengers died in Arizona last year. There were 127 motorcycle-related deaths in 2014, compared to 149 fatalities in 2013 and 139 such deaths in 2012, according to the report. The annual report shows 28 bicyclists were killed last year, compared to 29 in 2013 and 18 in 2012. Pedestrian deaths also were down just slightly, from 160 in 2013 to 157 in 2014.

A downward trend in alcohol-related fatalities continued last year, with a 6 percent drop. There were 265 alcohol-related deaths on the state’s roads in 2014, compared to 282 in 2013 and 283 in 2012. The total number of reported alcohol-related crashes was down from 5,239 in 2013 to 4,887 in 2014. Sadly, alcohol was involved in more than a third (34 percent) of all fatal crashes.

You can view the 2014 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts Report on our website. Here are some figures from the report:

• One person was killed in a motor-vehicle crash every 11.33 hours in 2014 (average of 2.12 people killed each day).
• At least 266 (34 percent) of the 774 people killed in motor-vehicle crashes 2014 were not wearing safety devices, including seat belts and helmets.
• Urban-area fatalities (397 deaths) decreased more than 10 percent last year (compared to 442 in 2013).
• Rural-area fatalities (377 deaths) decreased by more than 7 percent last year (compared to 407 in 2013).
• Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 17 percent of all crashes but also 37 percent of all fatal crashes.
• Crashes during daylight hours (6 a.m. – 6 p.m.) accounted for 72.5 percent of all crashes in 2014, nearly the same as in 2013.
• Friday was the peak day of the week for all crashes during 2014 (18,759 crashes).
• The Thanksgiving weekend was the deadliest holiday weekend on Arizona roadways last year (18 deaths). Nine people were killed in crashes over the July Fourth holiday weekend in 2014.
• Motor-vehicle crashes resulted in $3.02 billion in economic losses for Arizona last year.

Last year, ADOT and other public safety agencies completed an update of Arizona’s State Highway Safety Plan, a framework for reducing fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads in the state. Emphasis areas addressed in the report are speeding and aggressive driving, impaired driving, occupant protection, motorcycle safety and distracted driving.

By Dallas Hammit
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation

By now, you should be familiar with Pull Aside, Stay Alive – the public awareness campaign designed to educate drivers about what to do (and what not to do) when they encounter a dust storm.

Since ADOT, along with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service launched the effort three years ago, many drivers have gotten the message that it’s better to wait out a dust storm rather than to risk driving through one. I encourage you to review and help spread the safe-driving tips that have become a part of the campaign’s core; however, today I want to give you a look at what ADOT and other agencies are working toward in regards to dust storm safety.

You might not know that Pull Aside, Stay Alive was born out of a 2012 dust storm workshop attended by agencies from around the state. That workshop has become an annual event, and this year’s meeting, held last month in Casa Grande, focused on some long-term goals related to helping drivers stay safe before, during and after a dust storm.

The 2015 workshop included presentations on the work that’s happening to better detect and predict dust storms – we’re seeing some interesting developments on that front. Dust storm response and mitigation were among the topics discussed, and ADOT’s very own Research Center was on the agenda with a presentation on a recent study on dust storm communication. We’ve learned through that study that there is a high degree of familiarity with the “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” campaign. The day wrapped up with a group discussion that concentrated on how to advance the efforts.

This collaboration is so important because no single group or agency can prevent dust storms, but together we can find ways to minimize the danger. As we head toward the summer months, ADOT will continue this year to build and grow awareness with Arizona drivers about the dangers of dust storms and what to do if they encounter one.

For as long as there have been roads, there have been work zones. While those early projects might have looked a little different from what we see today, motorists have been navigating near construction crews and work sites for a very long time.

Taken in June 1980, this photo shows work happening on I-17 near Camp Verde.

We don’t have photos showing construction of the state’s earliest highways, but we do have some work zone shots from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Seeing that it is National Work Zone Awareness Week, we thought now would be a good time to share.

As you can see, Arizona’s highway system has grown in the past few decades – Interstate 17 certainly looks very different now!

We know that the drivers in the photographs didn’t have the ADOT website to turn to for construction updates. They didn’t have az511.gov or social media either (can you even imagine?). We hope that they knew to slow down, pay attention and expect the unexpected in the work zone – it was important back then and it’s important now.

Construction on I-40 in Holbrook from back in August 1979.

Luckily, today’s drivers have all those resources. Motorists of 2015 can also visit ADOT’s Work-Zone safety page for tips on how to maneuver safely through a work zone.

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It’s safe to say things have changed since 1912 when the Arizona Highway Department was first established. But you don’t just have to take our word … we’ve got plenty of pictures to prove it. We combed through our archives and decided to periodically post these photos from the past in a blog series we’re calling, “From the ADOT Archives.”