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.”

Building and maintaining the state’s highway system means that ADOT crews frequently need to work pretty close to traffic to get the job done...

That proximity can lead to some big safety risks when motorists choose to drive dangerously, which is why we’re asking drivers to slow down, pay attention and expect the unexpected in the work zone.

Work Zone Awareness

Today marks the start of National Work Zone Awareness Week, an ideal time to review and address any bad driving habits. Driving with caution through a work zone will not only help to protect road crews, but it will also help to ensure your safety.

Did you know that most victims in work-zone crashes are likely to be drivers or their passengers?

Slowing down, obeying signs and warning devices, and preparing for lane restrictions really go a long way to keep everyone safe.

So, here’s what you can do to stay safer in the work zone:

• Expect the unexpected. Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be restricted and people may be working on or near the road.
• Slow down! Speeding is one of the major causes of work-zone crashes.
• Keep a safe distance. The most common type of accident in a work zone is a rear-end collision. Maintain two car lengths between you and the car in front of you as well as road crews and their equipment.
• Pay attention. The warning signs are there to help you move safely through the work zone. Observe the posted signs.
• Obey road crew flaggers. The flagger knows what is best for moving traffic safely in the work zone. A flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign. You can be cited for disobeying a flagger's directions.
• Stay alert and minimize distractions. Dedicate your full attention to the roadway and avoid changing radio stations or using cell phones while driving in a work zone.
• Keep up with traffic flow. Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by merging as soon as possible. Do not drive right up to the lane closure and then try to barge in.
• Check road conditions before you travel. Schedule enough time to drive safely and check for traffic information by calling 511 or by logging on to az511.gov.
• Be patient and stay calm. Remember, crews are working to improve the road and your commute.

Visit azdot.gov/WorkZone for more information.

By Dallas Hammit
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation

The Super Bowl recently put Arizona in the spotlight. Leading up to the big event, as fans were getting ready for game day, ADOT was prepping for the increased traffic that multiple related events would bring to our freeways.

The planning that was involved is certainly noteworthy and I want to share with you how ADOT, along with many other agencies, worked for months to ensure a safe, efficient experience for drivers.

Some of that planning included a number of pregame meetings and participation in a series of “tabletop exercises” designed to show how all the agencies involved would respond to a variety of scenarios. During Super Bowl week, which was filled with events and festivities, ADOT pre-staged resources at multiple locations across the Valley. Cone trucks, attenuators, a dump truck and loader along with an ALERT (Arizona Local Emergency Response Team) truck were all deployed and ready to go. In the event they were needed, these vehicles would be able to quickly clear crashes.

Our Traffic Operations Center was also ready for any traffic incident. The TOC Control Room served as the central point of contact for ADOT and other agencies. Because of excellent coordination with those agencies and surrounding municipalities, the TOC was able to promptly update our Dynamic Message Signs with important route information and safety messaging. During the game, ADOT was also on-site at the Multi-Agency Coordination Center to manage operations in coordination with a number of local agencies.

Now that Super Bowl XLIX is behind us, it’s safe to say that the planning paid off. Lessons learned were shared amongst agencies, and the partnerships that were in many cases already there to begin with, have been strengthened.

By Dallas Hammit
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation

A major effort that began in 2012 to update Arizona’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) reached a milestone last year when a new plan was formally approved. Now that it is in effect, the updated SHSP is being used by ADOT and other agencies to address several transportation safety issues.

ADOT, along with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Department of Public Safety, the Arizona Department of Health Services, the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and dozens of stakeholders statewide collaborated on the state’s new SHSP.

The update was a big endeavor and I want to say thank you to everyone involved who worked so diligently on this task.

The new safety plan is now available to view online and I encourage you all to take a look.

You’ll see that the goal of the SHSP is to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads in Arizona. To help achieve that goal, the SHSP outlines several emphasis areas including speeding and aggressive driving, impaired driving, occupant protection, motorcycles and distracted driving. Multiple strategies and action steps have been formulated to make sure the objectives are met.

It’s a comprehensive document that provides a guide for where we want to go. You can view the plan at azdot.gov/shsp.

It is National Teen Driver Safety Week and while teenagers might view a driver license as their key to independence, parents and guardians know these new drivers still need plenty of guidance and support…

Inexperience behind the wheel, speeding, seatbelt use and distractions are all factors that put teens at a high risk for involvement in a serious or fatal crash.

The good news is that parents who talk with their teens to establish safe-driving habits truly have a positive impact. According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), surveys indicate that “teenagers whose parents impose driving restrictions typically engage in less risky driving and are involved in fewer crashes.”

Getting the conversation started

Knowing where to begin the discussion can be tricky. Luckily, there are a number of resources designed to help parents in their approach.

Launched in 2013 to encourage a dialogue between parents and children, NHTSA’s “5 to Drive” campaign outlines these five crucial rules for teen drivers:
1. No drinking and driving.
2. Buckle up. Every trip. Every time. Front seat and back.
3. Put it down. One text or call could wreck it all.
4. Stop speeding before it stops you.
5. No more than one passenger at any time.

For each of the five topics, the NHTSA offers up facts and strategies that may come in handy as you and your teen talk about future driving habits. You can find more information about the “5 to Drive” campaign at safercar.gov.

Another good source of information is the Arizona Driver License Manual. When you review it with your teen driver, you may want to pay close attention to the requirements for graduated instruction permits and driver licenses.

And don’t forget, you can and should always set a good example for your future drivers, no matter what their age. That means adhering to the rules of the road, buckling up, obeying the speed limit and refraining from cell phone / mobile device use while driving.

By Jennifer Toth
Deputy Director for Transportation

Of all the cargo we transport, none is more valuable than children. Yet tragically, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13 years. These deaths, and thousands of serious injuries, can be prevented by properly using car seats, booster seats or seat belts.

In recognition of national Child Passenger Safety Week September 14-20, 2014, I want to remind everyone about properly using child safety seats and seat belts. Not only do they save lives, but child safety seats are required by Arizona law. Children younger than 8 years old and under 4' 9" must be properly secured in a safety or booster seat.

If you currently use a car seat and want to ensure it is properly installed, visit www.safercar.gov/parents/index.htm for information about car seat inspection locations in Arizona.

As children grow up, they need to understand the importance of always wearing a seat belt. One of the best ways to teach them is leading by example. This means always wearing YOUR seat belt and making sure all passengers are buckled up or properly secured in the appropriate car seat before you begin driving.

Sharing the Road with Trucks

September 14-20 is also National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. One of the best ways to show your appreciation during this week, and always, is by safely sharing the road with trucks. Here are a few tips, courtesy of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:

• Avoid blind spots, also referred to as “no zones,” around the front, back and sides of a truck. If you cannot see the truck driver in the mirror, the truck driver can’t see you.
• Don’t cut in front of trucks. They need more time to stop compared to a passenger vehicle. Forcing a larger vehicle to stop suddenly can result in a serious crash.
• Pass trucks safely! Look for the front of the truck in your rear-view mirror and make sure there is enough space between your vehicle and the truck before pulling in front.