Safety is an important topic here on the ADOT Blog. From dust storm info and winter driving tips to seat belt rules and tire pressure guidelines, we try to cover it all...

That’s why you better believe we’re not going to pass up the chance to blog about Work Zone Awareness Week, which gets started today. This is the week that’s observed each year by transportation officials across the country in an effort to increase driver awareness of work zone safety issues.

It’s probably pretty clear why work zone safety is a serious topic at ADOT. Our crews are out in work zones everyday, building and maintaining the state’s highways. Their safety is, of course, a high priority. But, did you know that most of the people killed in highway work zone crashes are drivers and their passengers?

You can see that it’s really important for everyone to make work zone safety a priority.

Drivers play a big role in keeping work zones safe

According to the Federal Highway Administration, most work zone fatalities (about 85-90 percent each year) are motorists and their occupants, and 10-15 percent of fatalities are workers and other non-motorized users such as pedestrians and bicyclists.

“Driver-related factors that affect work zone crashes include speeding, distractions (such as cell phones, texting, and radios), inattentive driving and aggressive driving,” according to the FHWA. “The main type of work zone crash is a rear-end collision, and adequate following distance is important in avoiding such crashes.”

Work Zone Speeding: A Costly Mistake

This year’s theme highlights the fact that speeding is a major factor that contributes to work zone crashes. According to the FHWA, speeding was involved in 36 percent of the fatal crashes that occurred in work zones in 2011.

But, we all know that speed isn’t the only thing you’ve got to pay attention to when you’re driving.

Here’s a good list of driving tips to keep in mind the next time you’re driving through a work zone:

• Slow down. Speeding is among the major causes of work-zone crashes.
• Wear your seatbelt. It is your best defense in a crash.
• Pay attention. Warning signs, directional signs and flaggers are in place to guide you through the work zone safely, so read and obey them. Using a handheld device while driving is never a good idea - especially in work zones. Minimize other distractions that can take your eyes, ears and attention off the road.
• Expect out-of-the-ordinary road conditions. Be ready for lower speed limits, lane restrictions, detours and lots of activity involving workers and equipment next to travel lanes.
• Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Rear-end collisions are the most common type of work-zone crashes. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and construction equipment and crews as well.
• Obey road crew flaggers. Not only does the flagger have information to guide motorists through the work zone safely, but he or she has the same authority as a regulatory sign. Ignore a flagger and you could be cited. Even worse, you could be involved in a serious crash.
• Don’t cut in line ... or try to keep other drivers out. When lanes are narrowed, merge as soon as the signs direct you to do so. Drivers who wait until the last minute to merge (and cut off other drivers) disrupt traffic flow and slow down the commute for everyone. If you’re already in the open travel lane, be considerate and allow other drivers to merge in early.
• Check road conditions and plan accordingly. Schedule enough time to drive safely. By adding a few extra minutes to your commute, you’ll make up for possible work-zone delays. Check for traffic information in advance by calling 511 or by logging on to az511.gov. Never call or log onto the 511 system while driving!
• Be patient and stay calm. Remember: Road crews are working to improve the roadway and your commute.

For more information, visit the FHWA website or check out some of our previous work-zone safety blog posts.

It seems like 2013 has flown by – can you believe we’ve got less than two weeks until the New Year?

We’ve really enjoyed being able to share ADOT’s story with you throughout the year, and we look forward to bringing you more videos and blog posts in 2014!

However, starting Dec. 23, the ADOT Blog will be taking a weeklong hiatus. So, there are a few things we want to make sure to tell you about before the blog goes on vacation…

• Drivers will be happy to know ADOT has announced that no full closures for construction will be scheduled along state highways during the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holiday period (Dec. 23-Jan. 2). Motorists are still urged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, avoid distractions and be patient if traveling during the holidays. Please obey speed limits, buckle up and never drive while impaired. Don’t forget to #KnowSnow.
• Only the blog is taking an extended vacation. All ADOT and MVD offices will be open EXCEPT for Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, when they’ll close in recognition of the holidays.
• We want to remind you that there are plenty of places to get your ADOT information every day of the year. You can check for ADOT news and info on Twitter and Facebook. If you’re looking for traffic conditions around the state, be sure to head over to az511.gov.

From seat belts and dust storms, to snow, work zones and tire pressure – we know that you know there are plenty of things to consider before getting on the road…

But, do you ever think much about roadway debris? It’s a potential danger all drivers should be aware of – it’s also something that everyone can help prevent.

“ADOT maintenance crews are picking up tons of debris in any given year and our crews wind up picking everything, including the kitchen sink,” says ADOT’s Doug Nintzel in the video above.

Last year, crews picked up more than 36 tons of rubber alone. There were also appliances, luggage, mattresses, ladders, furniture, buckets and your average everyday litter.

What can you do?

Drivers need to make sure their vehicle loads are tied down and covered. It’s also important not to overload your vehicle. To cut down on the chances of having a blowout (that’s what contributes to the tons and tons of rubber out on the roads), it’s essential that you maintain your vehicle’s tires and make sure they’re at the proper pressure.

“Make sure that you’re not letting things fly off your vehicle,” Nintzel says in the video. “It’s about keeping drivers and their passengers safe.”

By Jennifer Toth 
ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation

Did you know that your safety, and the safety of your passengers and other drivers, could be riding on your tires?

The role of tires in transportation safety has been a major topic for lawmakers, and car makers, for the past several years.

About a decade ago, researchers attributed more than 74,000 crashes a year to blowouts and flat tires.

In 2000, the federal Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act (TREAD) mandated the installation of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) in vehicles manufactured after 2007.

Today, TPMS alert drivers to an underinflated tire. The required TPMS is the reason why you might see a warning light illuminate in your vehicle nowadays. It’s more than a courtesy; it’s a tool designed to prevent crashes, reduce injuries and save lives.

Even if your vehicle has a TPMS, you should inspect all four tires and the spare regularly, advises Lionel McFarlane, ADOT’s safety liaison for Equipment Services.

Check your tires before a road trip and at least once a month for the following:

Correct tire pressure: Maintain the recommended tire pressure in all four tires. You can find the recommended tire pressure on the sticker or placard inside your vehicle door or in the owner’s manual for your vehicle.

• Always use an accurate tire pressure gauge. You can’t always tell just by looking if a tire is under- or over-inflated;
• Check tire pressure when the tires are cold (about three hours after your last drive).

Uneven or rapid wear: This could signal the need for a wheel alignment. A misalignment can also cause tires to squeal and your vehicle to pull to one side or another.
Road debris: Even new tires sustain damage if you hit or run over debris. Check for nails and screws, glass and metal in the tire surface, shoulder and sidewall.
Cracks and dry, brittle rubber: These are the ugly symptoms of “dry rot,” which requires tire replacement.
Anything out of the ordinary: Check the tire surface, shoulder and sidewall for deep cuts (“gorges”), bubbles that look like air pockets or other anomalies.
Properly fitting valve caps: The valve caps should be on all the time to keep stem clean and prevent you from forcing sand and debris into the tire when you fill it with air.
Enough tread: Tire tread ensures proper traction with the road surface. Tread below 2/32 of an inch means your tires cannot grip the roadway. On a wet road surface you might feel your vehicle slip or “hydroplane,” causing you to slide or lose control. Tires have a ‘wear bar’ so you know when the tread is below 2/32 of an inch.

• Try the coin test. Put an upside-down penny or quarter in your tread. If the president’s head is covered, you have more than 2/32 of an inch of tread remaining. If you can see the president’s head, you’re tread is too low.
• For maximum traction on wet roads, consider replacing tires when the tread reaches 4/32 of an inch; if snow is a concern, keep the tread above 6/32 of an inch.

Keep in mind: There’s no set time-frame for your tires to last. Their lifespan depends on your driving habits, driving conditions and factors outside your control, such as running over a nail. That’s why it is so important for all drivers to inspect tires routinely and repair or replace them as needed.

Who says safety messages have to be humorless or uninteresting?

Not us and certainly not anyone out there who has taken part in Haboob Haiku: Year Two!

Not only have you turned in some really inspired poetry that’s fun to read, but you’ve helped us spread the important “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” message for a second year in a row.

Safety is of course the main reason why we #HaboobHaiku, but as we stated last year, we hope that by building public awareness through social media you’ll continue to help us spread our messages when a dust storm (or any road closure/emergency) hits.

We’ll remind you one more time that you can find dust storm safety tips, videos and more on our website, PullAsideStayAlive.org.

OK ... now on to those haikus!

We read all of them and narrowed it down to our favorites. Today, we’re asking you to help us choose this year’s top #HaboobHaiku.

Voting ends Wednesday, June 26. We’ll announce the winner next Friday (like last year, we don’t have any prizes to offer – the winner will just have major bragging rights)!

*After you've selected your favorite #HaboobHaiku in the survey below, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the poll and click, "Done.

Thank you for voting! This survey is now closed.

ADOT’s yearly Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report shows that 823 people lost their lives in crashes on state and local roadways in Arizona in 2012.

It’s a very slight decrease from the previous year’s number, however the report also reveals that motorcycle-related fatalities actually increased by more than 5 percent from 2011 (139 in 2012 compared to 132 in 2011).

Hopefully these statistics can serve as a reminder to all of us on the importance of safe driving.

Here are some more figures from ADOT's 2012 Arizona Crash Facts report:

• There were 103,176 total crashes recorded in 2012 (down 0.58 percent compared to 103,774 crashes in 2011)
• One person was killed in a motor vehicle-related crash every 10.65 hours
• Crashes with injuries accounted for 32 percent of all crashes, while 67 percent of all crashes were listed as “property damage only”
• Pedestrian fatalities decreased by 14 percent (132 deaths in 2012 compared to 154 in 2011)
• 72.5 percent of all crashes occurred during daylight hours (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Motor vehicle crashes also created economic losses approaching $3 billion in Arizona last year. Economic losses tied to fatalities, including wage and productivity losses, totaled $1.2 billion, while losses from property damage added up to more than $640 million
• Alcohol-related fatalities decreased by 2 percent (281 deaths in 2012 compared to 287 in 2011)

"These figures should remind all of us to make a pledge to resist distractions and concentrate on safe driving," said ADOT Director John Halikowski. "Public safety agencies met recently to begin updating Arizona's Strategic Highway Safety Plan. One area sure to receive even more attention in the coming year is motorcycle safety. We urge all motorcyclists to seriously consider safety-training courses and remind all drivers to increase their awareness when sharing the road with motorcycle riders."

You can read the entire 2012 Arizona Crash Facts report online

At this year’s Safety Partnering Roadeo, which was held March 26-27 at the State Fairgrounds facility in Phoenix, ADOT welcomed more than 400 people to participate in over 66 classes and various safety/training events…

But, what’s a roadeo?

There’s no roping, bull riding or barrel racing at an ADOT roadeo, but you will find plenty of events designed to test the skills and knowledge of equipment operators from all around the state.

Four components make up the two-day event that’s open to not only ADOT employees, but also equipment operators in the private sector and from other governmental agencies.

There’s a driving course, which is designed to test an operator’s ability to maneuver a vehicle through a series of obstacles. The main objective is to complete the course without hitting any of the obstacles and to operate the equipment in such a way as to demonstrate safe and proper equipment operation.

Next, there’s an equipment inspection that challenges an operator’s ability to perform a pre-trip inspection on the pieces of equipment on which they’ll be competing with. There are several safety and/or mechanical defects that must be identified on the unit inspected from a list of 50 possible defects.

Operators also have to complete a written test that factors into their overall score.

Most importantly, there’s the safety training – this is the primary focus of the roadeo and several safety training breakout sessions were held this year.

Judging from the video above, this year’s event was a good mix of friendly competition and lots of safety training, which is a big benefit to participants.

“The guys can go back and say, ‘hey, there’s something new out there I learned,’” says Highway Operations Manager Ron Curtis. “The more information you get, the better you are.”

ADOT’s Director of Safety and Risk Management Sonya Herrera explains the safety emphasis.

“We had about 419 people who attended training for a total of 703 hours,” she says in the video. “So this really does help make traveling on the state’s roadways, as well as those of our municipal partners, safer.”

Gore area: the space between a through roadway and an entrance or exit ramp. If it’s been a while since you studied up on the Arizona driver license manual, you might not recall that it is against the law to drive through a gore area ... or that it's three points against your license if you violate this traffic rule.

But your driving record isn't the only thing to worry about – crossing through the gore area is a dangerous move.

DPS Officer Carrick Cook explains that in 1998, DPS Officer Doug Knutson died after being struck by a vehicle that had crossed into the gore area. Officer Cook says that shortly after the tragedy, a law was passed making it illegal to cross or park in the gore area.

That law is very much enforced out on the roads in this state...

DPS statistics show that in just over three years, Arizona DPS officers have issued nearly 6,000 tickets to motorists for driving through the gore area. In that same time frame (July 2009 through earlier this month) officers have also issued 1,983 warnings.

Avoiding the gore area
Motorists should easily be able to identify a gore area – there are a few characteristics that are included in their design to aid drivers in recognizing the gore, according to ADOT State Traffic Engineer Al Zubi.

“We have included features to the marking of a gore area, such as a wider line, raised pavement markers on the side of the line to better delineate it and a dashed pavement marking configuration and end point to emphasize that the motorists need to keep out of the gore,” Zubi said.

Drivers who have no other alternative except to park in the gore area likely won’t receive a ticket. Officer Cook says if a car is disabled, the driver can stop in the gore area if that’s their only option, but it is recommended to pull into in the emergency shoulder lane or exit the freeway if at all possible.

“The simple fact is that it’s such a short area,” Officer Cook said of the gore. “People don’t anticipate crossing that line and it could cause some significant injuries … it’s a dangerous violation that we take very seriously.”

Read the state statute concerning gore areas. For more rules of the road, check out the Arizona driver license manual.

We probably don’t need to tell you this, but it is really, really hot out there …

A lot of us are lucky to work indoors during the warmest parts of the day (thank goodness for air-conditioning!), but here at ADOT many employees are stationed outside to work.

That is why ADOT and its workers take every precaution to prevent heat-related illness, particularly when temperatures hover well over 100 degrees. As you can imagine, heat-related injuries are a potential hazard for ADOT crews across the state. On asphalt or concrete, temperatures often soar 15 to 20 degrees above the air temperature!

ADOT trains its employees to know that exposure to summer heat can be life threatening if not treated properly. Highway workers are taught to monitor themselves and their co-workers for signs of heat-related incidents and to use common sense when working out in the hot sun.

“As highway and construction workers, we must be prepared to work in the elements every day,” said Granite Construction Safety Manager Mike Flynn, whose construction company has worked on several ADOT projects. “It is imperative our employees are trained both mentally and physically in the hazards of being out in the heat. Everyone must recognize and act upon signs of heat stress, not only for yourself, but also with your fellow workers.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of safety and health legislation, each year thousands of outdoor workers experience serious heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion. If they’re lucky, someone recognizes the symptoms fast enough to move them out of the heat, give them water and help cool them down. If not, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke. For 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 4,190 workers nationwide suffered from heat illness and 40 died from heat stroke and related causes on the job.

Heat safety training is a critical task for ADOT’s Health and Safety Office. Workers who are exposed to high temperatures are required to complete a heat stress training class.

They learn to know the signs and symptoms of heat injury, and to observe proper work practices. That includes drinking enough fluids, taking adequate rest breaks, wearing protective sun gear and knowing first aid procedures for treating heat illnesses. In addition, ADOT offices involved in highway work across the state conduct their own “Safety Stand Down Days” to review heat and other safety issues.

Through successful use of heat stress training and other methods, only seven ADOT employees have been treated for heat-related illnesses since 2009.

In addition to training, ADOT uses various strategies to mitigate the effects of the heat:

• Projects are usually started earlier in the day before the hottest hours in the afternoon.
• Workers use a ‘buddy system’, where they are responsible for observing fellow co-workers for early signs and symptoms of heat disorders.
• Summer standards include switching some paving to nighttime shifts once daytime temperatures reach 100.
• Retrofitting highways with one inch overlays of temperature-sensitive rubberized asphalt is typically avoided during the hottest months of the year.
• Employees who have not been working in hot environments are recommended to have at least a 7 to-10 day acclimatization period during which they need to take extra time to rest and replenish liquids.
• ADOT has a large supply of safety products for distribution to employees. The Health and Safety Office provides large amounts of sunscreen to employees who work outside. Additionally, the department has access to other sun protection gear, including hard hat sun shades and long sleeved safety shirts.