It’s a tale as old as dust. Two down-on-their-luck songwriters team up and, against all odds, finagle a meeting with producers of a wildly successful website. At the meeting, the duo pitches co-writing a theme song. The producers are not impressed and summon security to toss the pair out. But one producer speaks out. She proposes giving the duo a chance, but with a catch. They must produce a song about dust storm safety and turn it around in one day. If they succeed, it might lead to future opportunities.

The songwriters take the challenge, write a catchy song and recruit gifted musicians to record it. The resulting recording takes the land by storm, becoming No. 1 Solid Gold on the Billboard Hot 100 and significantly boosting the website’s profile.

Time out for a reality check!

The account above is based on a true story, but I’ve taken artistic license with the facts for dramatic effect.

Now, it’s time to reveal the true back story of this "Behind the Music" tall tale.

John Walradt and I both work at ADOT – John as a graphic designer and I as a community relations project manager. We’ve played music together in the past and both enjoy songwriting. We decided to approach our co-workers in charge of the ADOT Kids program about adding some music to the interactive website.

The ADOT Kids producers warmed to the idea after hearing recordings of some of our individual songs. Our first thought was to co-write a theme song for the website, but the producers saw an opportunity to try something different to promote ADOT’s annual Pull Aside, Stay Alive campaign, which focuses on dust-storm safety. They asked us to compose a song for young people that emphasizes how to stay safe in a dust storm.   

John composed the verses and I wrote the chorus. We split up the lyric writing, each penning a verse and collaborating on the chorus. We recorded a rough cut of the song and shared it with the ADOT Kids producers who approved the project.

Next, we recruited in-house talent to help us record the song. In keeping with safety guidelines due to the current public health situation, we recorded the song parts individually. With help from ADOT’s Video Services team, I laid down a guitar track and lead vocal track in the recording booth at ADOT. That me in the booth in the top photo. Next, Gaby Kemp, another community relations project manager, and her talented daughters Naomi, 7, and Raquel, 6, added enthusiastic background vocals.

Doug Nick, assistant communications director for customer outreach and an accomplished drummer, recorded a drum track at home and emailed it to John, who added a keyboard part and vocal harmony in his home studio. As this photo shows, John mixed all the tracks and, voilà, the yet-unnamed dust storm song was brought to life.

Although the “true” story pales in comparison to the hyped "Behind the Music" version, I still feel like we turned dust into gold, gold forged through teamwork and a spirit of fun.

There's just one little catch: This future hit still needs a name! And that's where you come in. Whether you're a kid or a kid at heart, we need your help coming up with a fun title for our song.

So here's how you help. First off, give our song a listen, then email your idea for a title to [email protected] by close of business Monday, July 6, and we'll pick our favorite. We'll announce the winners next week on the ADOT Blog and on ADOT's social media channels. 

You are driving down the highway when, straight ahead, you see a wall of swirling dust in front of you. It's a dust storm on the move, and it's crossing the highway. What do you do?

Planning for changing weather conditions is a must for all drivers. We talk a lot about how you should "Know Snow," but making the right choices when encountering a dust storm is equally important. That's why we put together this quiz to see if you know how to keep yourself safe. Whether you are learning for the first time or just need a refresher, test your knowledge of dust storm safety tips in the quiz below!

You can also find more information at FocusOnDriving.com and PullAsideStayAlive.org.

We all know what to expect when the monsoon whips up dust storms that race across the desert between Tucson and Phoenix: strong winds, limited visibility and hazardous driving conditions.

But drivers on that stretch of Interstate 10 should expect something very different this summer when storms hit: reduced speed limits, speed feedback signs and new overhead boards that display urgent safety messages.

These features are now working together as part of ADOT’s dust detection and warning system, which became operational just in time for the 2020 monsoon season that officially began June 15. This video shows you how this first-of-its-kind system works on a 10-mile segment of I-10 between Eloy and Picacho Peak, along with what drivers will see when dust storms automatically activate the system.

This system was developed by ADOT to improve safety during dust storms. But it only works if drivers heed the warnings. So make sure to pay extra attention to the safety messages on overhead signs and to obey the reduced speed limits, which are enforceable. Speed limits can drop to as low as 35 miles per hour, depending on real-time conditions in the area.

You can read more about the dust detection and warning system on our website.

Please remember that this technology is no substitute for common sense. Wherever you are traveling, be sure you've reviewed our dust storm safety tips at PullAsideStayAlive.org. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: ADOT Kids is an initiative connecting children with transportation-related subjects. Whether or not your child aspires to a career in engineering, we hope everyone finds ADOT Kids fun and informative. You'll find many other activities on the ADOT Kids website at azdot.gov/ADOTKids.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

Arizona officially entered monsoon season earlier this week. That means many of us will probably experience a few dust storms and heavy rainstorms over the next few months.

Dust storms can be fun to watch live on TV news or YouTube videos. They grow thousands of feet high, dozens of miles wide and sometimes seem like a computer-generated special effect from a blockbuster movie. Did you know on July 9, 2018, a dust storm soared a mile high and traveled nearly 200 miles, going from Arizona’s Mogollon Rim, through Phoenix and on to Yuma before fizzling out near Imperial, California?

Because dust storms can get so big, they can affect roads and people traveling in cars. If you’re in a car and see a dust storm ahead, the driver shouldn't go into it. If a dust storm moves quickly and your car can’t avoid it, ADOT recommends following the “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” tips to increase your safety in a dust storm.

To help kids become familiar with dust storm safety, we've created some fun activities that you'll find below and on the ADOT Kids website at azdot.gov/ADOTKids.

CREATE AND SHARE A DUST STORM SAFETY MESSAGE: We're encouraging you to create your own sign to keep people from driving into a dangerous dust storm. At ADOT, we use the slogan Pull Aside, Stay Alive. Create your own message, then take a picture of it and email to [email protected] by 5 p.m. Friday, June 26, and we’ll feature it on our social media and the ADOT Kids webpage! There's a coloring sheet at the bottom, but you can create the message any way you want.

WORD SEARCH: Do you like word searches? If so, you’ll enjoy activity below where we’ve hidden 18 monsoon-related terms.  

CONNECT THE DOTS: The activity below gives you a glimpse at what cars should do when a dust storm is rolling through.

If you want to see some videos of what it’s like to drive into a dust storm – and why it’s dangerous – ADOT has created this playlist of videos on YouTube.

Please keep an eye on the ADOT Blog over the next week for interesting posts about monsoon season, including a video featuring the dust detection and warning system we've installed along 10 miles of Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix. You'll also hear an original ADOT song about dust storm safety.

For more information about the severe weather events that can happen in Arizona during monsoon season, please check out the National Weather Service’s Monsoon Safety Page.

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Safety message coloring sheet
(Please email yours to [email protected] and we'll feature it on social media and our website!)

Word search

Connect the dots

 

 

Monsoon season is officially underway. In addition to dust storms, the monsoon brings the potential for sudden, intense downpours.

Now is the time to get rainstorm-ready. Here are some suggestions for prepping your vehicle:

• Check your tire pressure and tire treads. You don’t want to be caught on slippery road surfaces with poorly inflated or bare tires.
• Check your windshield wipers. Blades can quickly wear, crack or become rigid. Their average lifespan is six months to a one year. You don’t want to discover during a deluge that they aren’t up to the task. Also, top off your windshield washer fluid.
• Clean and check your vehicle's battery. Remove corrosion and ensure cables are securely attached to terminals. We live in a state where batteries tend to last about two years. You don’t want to get caught in driving rain when your battery dies.

Now that your vehicle is shipshape, you need to pack supplies. Bring extra water, an emergency kit, a fully charged cellphone, hand sanitizer, wipes and a cloth face mask. Snacks and extra clothes can be handy if you are in a rain-related backup.

Are you ready for the road? Expect the unexpected. Are you in area prone to falling rocks? Stay alert because rain can loosen them. Are you driving into heavy rain, like this photo to the right from several years ago? Consider delaying travel or waiting it out in a safe spot as far off the road as possible.

Do you know what to do if your vehicle hydroplanes? This is when you drift due to a thin layer of water between your tires and the asphalt. Ease your foot off the gas pedal until you regain traction. Don't brake suddenly. If you are sliding or drifting, gently turn your steering wheel in the direction of your slide.

Even if you're not hydroplaning, don’t brake suddenly or you could slide on wet pavement. Leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. To slow down on a wet road, take your foot off the gas pedal and brake slowly.

It may seem like common sense, but do not risk crossing a flooded wash, even it if doesn’t seem deep. Water is a powerful force, as you can see in the photo of past flooding, and you could be swept away. Also, do not drive around “Road Closed” signs. Your risk your life and face being cited under the state’s Stupid Motorist law.

You can find these and other rain safety tips on the weather page of our website. There’s even more safety advice at azdot.gov/monsoon and PullAsideStayAlive.org.

 

It's not often in life that you get immediate results. A lot of things worth doing take time and patience to bear any fruit.

That's why it was gratifying when we saw a noticeable change in traffic flow and safety after crews completed a project to adjust some lane configurations on Interstate 10 at the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway.

ADOT worked in partnership with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to restripe and add signage on I-10 eastbound to give drivers two lanes as they approached the transition ramp to northbound Loop 101. The transition ramp itself was also restriped to provide two lanes for vehicles heading north. On westbound I-10, changes were made to extend one of the two right lanes, which previously only connected to northbound Loop 101, so drivers also had the choice to use that lane to continue west on I-10. That westbound right lane provides more capacity for traffic traveling beyond the Loop 101 interchange.

You can see shots of traffic moving through the completed work in this video to the right. 

The end result? Although the freeway was not physically widened, drivers now have more room while approaching the Loop 101, cutting down on the need for sudden lane changes.

And the benefits have been evident, even during times of lighter traffic. AZDPS reports that traffic is flowing better, there are fewer collisions, and an overall improvement to safety, both for the public and first responders.  

Funny enough, this isn't the first time a relatively simple change to striping and signage has made a noticeable impact on traffic and safety. As we told you about in a previous blog post, a couple of years ago we made similar changes to eastbound US 60 at the I-10, and it resulted in improved traffic flow and a drastic decrease in fender benders. 

This will not come as a huge shock to anyone, but Arizona gets pretty darn hot in the summertime.

Most of us beat the heat on a day-to-day basis with a combination of air conditioning, swimming pools and ice-cold liquid refreshment. But what if you're between those things or traveling to someplace more temperate? 

It's important for you and your vehicle to be prepared for these potentially scorching summertime temperatures, no matter where you find yourself. Luckily, we have accumulated some safety tips to help you do just that.

First off, make sure your vehicle is at tip-top shape to beat the heat. That includes:

• Test your battery, especially if it is past 3 years old. Heat can zap batteries.
• Check your coolant levels and top them off if necessary. If you are due for a coolant flush, consider getting that done before going anywhere too far away.
• Make sure to also check your oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid and power steering fluid.
• Confirm that your tires are properly inflated to reduce the risk of blowouts.
• Stock your vehicle with a first-aid kit, jumper cables and safety flares.
• Finally, make sure your car's air conditioner is working!

Now that your vehicle is ready to hit the road, remember to be prepared yourself.

• Plan your travel route in advance and check the az511.gov Arizona Traveler Information site for travel and weather conditions.
• Take along a fully charged cellphone
• Bring along plenty of sun protection, including a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and an umbrella.
• Have a cooler with cold drinking water.
• Be prepared with some healthy snacks

If there is a crash or your vehicle becomes disabled, make sure to call for assistence immediately. If possible, find a shaded spot to stop and run your air conditioner until help arrives. 

Given the current public health situation, your summer to-go list also should include hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and a cloth face covering.

You can find more tips about how to make sure you and your vehicle can enjoy summer, despite extreme heat, on the transportation safety page of our website. And just keep thinking frosty thoughts until temperatures dip once again!