Safety

PHOENIX – Over the weekend, State Route 87 was closed for a couple of hours south of Payson when a brush fire caused by a person broke out along the roadway. While the exact cause isn’t known yet, the 5.5-acre Oak Fire demonstrates why motorists should secure tow chains, properly inflate tires, check brakes and take other steps to reduce the risk of starting a wildfire.

Just one spark can cause all kinds of problems.

In addition to putting lives and property at risk, fires that spread quickly in dry brush can lead to highway closures and inconvenience for motorists.

It's that time again! Time for you to vote for your favorite in our fourth annual Safety Message Contest. Which entry would you like to see on our overhead freeway boards?

Every one of these creative messages showed how much you all care about keeping Arizona safe. We had a great time reading them. 

We hope an ADOT calendar featuring drawings and messages by children and grandchildren of our employees inspires you to find even more ways to promote safety where you live. 

As summer arrives, many teens will be spending more time practicing their driving skills and preparing for the driver license test. Along with the preparation can come a struggle between parent and teen of how to drive and who "knows it best." Today's driving quiz aims to help settle the debate. Parents and teens, take the quiz separately to see who really "knows it best!" For those wanting to take the quiz in Spanish, a Spanish version is immediately below the English version. Good luck!

Have you seen the fun safety messages ADOT puts on its highway boards? Well, here's your chance to tell us what you would put up there if you could! Send us your safety message suggestions and questions in our latest activity.

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation program that helps truck drivers in Mexico better understand and prepare for safety inspections at the border is using technology to provide virtual training during the current public health situation.

With people tempted to step on the gas during this period of lighter traffic, we want to remind you that are crews are still on the road working too.

Last month, one of ADOT's own, Frank Dorizio, was struck and killed in a work zone on Interstate 10 south of Phoenix. A member of ADOT’s Incident Response Unit, Dorizio was setting up traffic control for a pavement project.

PHOENIX – To enhance safety and accommodate growth in Prescott Valley, the Arizona Department of Transportation will make improvements along 2.2 miles of State Route 69 between Navajo Drive and Enterprise Parkway. 

Starting Monday, April 20, crews will begin constructing a raised median along the corridor. The project also includes initial work for a future traffic signal at Mendecino Drive and future improvements at Truwood Drive, both of which intersect with SR 69 in this stretch.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has reallocated more than 2,600 N95 respirator masks to two state-operated assisted care facilities to help address a need for personal protective equipment during the current health situation.

ADOT delivered 1,440 masks to the Arizona State Veteran Home in Phoenix and 1,200 masks to the Arizona Pioneers’ Home in Prescott following a call for the protective gear from the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and Governor Doug Ducey.

At the Traffic Operations Center, ADOT and AZDPS work together to alert motorists to potential dangers, mobilize ADOT personnel and state troopers, and make sure the public knows what’s up via the Arizona Traveler Information site (az511.gov), the 511 phone system and social media.

In honor of ADOT Incident Response Unit team member Frank Dorizio, Department of Public Safety troopers set up a special enforcement detail for Arizona's Move Over law.

Beginning Wednesday, motorists on Arizona highways will see messages on Dynamic Message Signs encouraging them to stop the spread of COVID-19.

PHOENIX – Pavement repairs continue, as do highway construction and improvement projects. For long-haul drivers delivering essential goods, rest areas offer truck parking and facilities. Crews patrol Phoenix-area freeways to quickly clear crashes and help stranded motorists.

On March 4, Governor Doug Ducey and others gathered in Nogales to break ground for a project improving State Route 189, the 3.75-mile state highway connecting the Mariposa Port of Entry and Interstate 19.

“6 Tom 16”

In following the tradition of the fire service and law enforcement, ADOT issued a final radio call for fallen Incident Response Unit member Frank Dorizio Tuesday following his memorial service in Tempe. That was Frank’s call sign as he patrolled Valley freeways, removing debris, helping troopers at crashes and assisting stranded motorists. You can hear the final call yourself in the sound file below.

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation employee was killed Wednesday while setting up a sign alerting drivers to pavement repairs along Interstate 10 south of the Phoenix area.

Frank Dorizio, 55, was a member of ADOT’s Incident Response Unit, which helps keep Phoenix-area freeways safe by setting up traffic control, removing debris and assisting stranded motorists.

PHOENIX – You’ve seen the unconventional traffic safety messages above Arizona highways on digital message boards. Beginning today, you’ll again have the opportunity to see your own message on ADOT’s Dynamic Message Signs.

That’s right; the Arizona Department of Transportation’s annual Safety Message Contest is back. Beginning today, messages can be submitted at azdot.gov/signcontest through Monday, March 2.

PHOENIX – Three months after launching, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Incident Response Unit has offered assistance nearly 4,000 times on Valley freeways, helping boost safety by getting traffic moving sooner after crashes.

In a first for ADOT, a new sponsorship by State Farm is helping the 14-member Incident Response Unit continue this important work, which ranges from setting up traffic control to moving vehicles involved in minor crashes to removing debris – even changing a flat tire here and there.