Safety

Sept. 15-21 is Child Passenger Safety Week

Sept. 15-21 is Child Passenger Safety Week

SR24-1

Sept. 15-21 is Child Passenger Safety Week

Sept. 15-21 is Child Passenger Safety Week

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications
September 16, 2019

If you can relate to any of the following, Child Passenger Safety Week is for you:

  • A soon-to-be parent, puzzled by the options and choices of infant carriers, rear- and forward-facing car seats, and booster seats.
  • A grandparent discovering that child seats today are far different from the ones their own children used.
  • A mom or dad who wants to be sure they’ve installed the car seat correctly – we’ve all been there.

The good news is that during Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 15-21) there will be opportunities statewide to assure and answer any child-safety-seat subjects.

Through its “Children Are Priceless Passengers” program, the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety coordinates child safety seat check events throughout the state, and there are many this week.

The proper use of car seats is important because every day more than 2,600 kids younger than 13 are involved in a car crash. Vehicle seats are designed for taller and larger adults; car seats keep kids safe, but more than half of all child safety seats are installed incorrectly.

More information about child safety seats:

No matter where you live in Arizona, use this webpage to find the nearest child passenger safety technician.

Check National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website to see if your child’s safety seat has been recalled by the manufacturer.

Technology helping ADOT to manage traffic through I-15 bridge project

Technology helping ADOT to manage traffic through I-15 bridge project

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Technology helping ADOT to manage traffic through I-15 bridge project

Technology helping ADOT to manage traffic through I-15 bridge project

September 4, 2019

PHOENIX – To enhance safety and manage traffic through the bridge improvement project along Interstate 15 in the Virgin River Gorge, the Arizona Department of Transportation is using a first-of-its-kind alert system to help reduce emergency braking and collisions.

With I-15 reduced to one lane in each direction during construction, traffic begins to queue during peak travel times and holidays. A queue warning system that includes portable message boards informs drivers of stop-and-go traffic ahead using equipment that detects traffic in real-time. 

With advance notice, drivers can anticipate heavy traffic, slow down and avoid erratic behavior, helping reduce collisions in the queue.

While this is the first time the system has been used on an ADOT project, going forward the agency intends to use it on projects creating similar traffic conditions.

The $6.4 million bridge improvement project is resurfacing the decks of Bridge No. 2 and Bridge No. 5 in I-15, while Bridge No. 4 is receiving a new deck. 

The project is scheduled to wrap up next spring.

For more information, please visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.

SRP employees honored by ADOT for helping with vehicle fire on I-10

SRP employees honored by ADOT for helping with vehicle fire on I-10

SR24-1

SRP employees honored by ADOT for helping with vehicle fire on I-10

SRP employees honored by ADOT for helping with vehicle fire on I-10

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications
August 13, 2019

When it comes to putting out fires, not all heroes drive big red trucks.

This week, ADOT recognized three members of SRP’s Water Construction West team for doing the right thing at the right time. SRP’s Bryan Dodge, Danlee Yazzie and Vince Ortega helped keep traffic moving and, more importantly, kept motorists safe when they put out a big fire involving a tractor-trailer last month.

Just before 3 p.m. on July 2, a semi on the shoulder of I-10 near the Loop 101 interchange was on fire. Fortunately, Bryan, Danlee and Vince made the decision to stop their full water truck and start knocking down the fire (as you can see in the photo below that SRP shared with us). Not only did they help keep traffic moving – the afternoon commute was beginning – they kept the traveling public safe by quickly putting out the fire.

Every day, there are incidents, like crashes, stalled vehicles, unsecured loads and, yes, vehicle fires, on our highways that require first responders. Law enforcement, maintenance crews and fire fighters are typically the first ones on scene. What was different this time is that we got an assist from unexpected partners. Bryan, Danlee and Vince truly were the right people in the right place at the right time with the right equipment.

 And they didn’t hesitate.

That’s why ADOT was pleased today to present Bryan Dodge, Danlee Yazzie and Vince Ortega with our A.I.R. Award, standing for ADOT's core values of accountability, integrity and respect. They may not be ADOT employees, but they upheld those principles by taking action to protect public safety.

SRP crew douses fire

Driving Safety Home: Crash Facts report shows that driver behavior is the key to safer roads

Driving Safety Home: Crash Facts report shows that driver behavior is the key to safer roads

SR24-1

Driving Safety Home: Crash Facts report shows that driver behavior is the key to safer roads

Driving Safety Home: Crash Facts report shows that driver behavior is the key to safer roads

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT State Engineer
August 9, 2019

At ADOT, our No. 1 goal is for everyone to get home safely.

Of course, we cannot accomplish that goal alone. We need drivers to help by making better choices behind the wheel. There are too many preventable collisions, fatalities and injuries occurring on Arizona’s roads.

We know this because ADOT publishes the Motor Vehicle Crash Facts Report every year. The report is a compilation of traffic crash reports provided to ADOT by law enforcement agencies around the state. The report reflects crash data for all Arizona roadways, including city streets, county roads, reservation roads and state highways.

According to the latest report, Arizona saw fewer crashes, fewer fatal crashes, fewer injury crashes and fewer crash-caused injuries on its roadways in 2018 compared to 2017. However, despite reductions in those key areas, the number of total traffic fatalities increased by 2%.

Here are some other key takeaways from the report:

  • From 2017 to 2018, Arizona saw fewer deaths in alcohol-related crashes, speeding-related crashes and those not wearing seat belts. In fact, alcohol-related fatalities were reduced significantly last year, falling from 324 in 2017 to 261 in 2018. These reductions were accomplished despite Arizona seeing its total licensed drivers grow by nearly 90,000 to 5.3 million and the total number of vehicles registered in the state surpass 6 million for the first time.
  • The number of people killed not wearing seat belts fell for the fourth year in a row — from 258 in 2015 to 216 in 2018 — but unbuckled occupants still account for more than a fifth of all traffic fatalities.
  • Total crashes and fatalities involving motorcycles and bicyclists also saw a decrease. The total number of collisions involving motorcycles fell by 6% and fatalities dropped from 161 in 2017 to 150 in 2018. Collisions involving bicyclists saw a 14.6% decrease and fatalities (24) fell to the lowest total since 2012.
  • Pedestrians account for nearly a quarter of the 1,021 killed in vehicle crashes. Pedestrian-related fatalities have climbed from 155 in 2014 to 245 in 2018. Most pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas and pedestrians should cross streets only at marked crosswalks where drivers expect to see them.
  • Officially, there were 11,898 drivers engaged in “distracted driving behavior” that were involved in collisions, including 42 fatal crashes. However, it is widely accepted that number of crashes caused by distracted drivers is much higher than reported because distracted drivers that cause crashes typically don’t admit to the act or died in the crash.

So, what can we learn from the data? I think it shows that all of us have a big responsibility and as drivers, we need to reflect on our behaviors and make adjustments. I encourage you to visit ADOT’s Focus on Driving website for safe-driving tips and as always, please share what you learn with your family and loved ones.

Sharks aren’t mindless killers, but reckless drivers are

Sharks aren’t mindless killers, but reckless drivers are

SR24-1

Sharks aren’t mindless killers, but reckless drivers are

Sharks aren’t mindless killers, but reckless drivers are

Stephanie Dyer / ADOT Communications
July 29, 2019

It’s Shark Week!

Discovery Channel is back with its annual viewing extravaganza featuring this predator that resides near the top of the marine food chain.

Did you know there were 130 reported incidents of shark-human interaction worldwide in 2018? According to the International Shark Attack File, a scientific organization that compiles data from all known shark attacks, 66 of the shark-human interactions were unprovoked shark attacks, while 34 of the remaining cases were confirmed as provoked attacks.

Since this is an ADOT blog post, you’re probably wondering sharks relate to transportation. Well, as an avid scuba diver who’s been around sharks, I want remind you that sharks aren’t the mindless killers they’ve been made out to be.

But you know who is? The reckless driver.

Just take a look at ADOT's homepage, which displays the number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes year-to-date in Arizona. Nearly all of those traffic fatalities could have been prevented if drivers made the choice to not drive recklessly or impaired, weren’t distracted or had buckled up.

Sure, sharks have rows of razor-sharp teeth. But they won’t harm you if you give them space. Can you say the same about the driver more interested in a group text than paying attention to the road ahead?

Let’s all drive safely, and happy Shark Week!

Bad weather day from 1917 reminds us to be prepared

Bad weather day from 1917 reminds us to be prepared

SR24-1

Bad weather day from 1917 reminds us to be prepared

Bad weather day from 1917 reminds us to be prepared

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications
July 26, 2019

This year's monsoon hasn't hit with anything too bad, at least so far, but it's always helpful to be reminded of how hazardous extreme weather can be.

According to The Associated Press, on this date in 1917 a 5-mile stretch of the Ajo Highway was reported washed out and the southern Arizona communities of Sasco and Silverbell were cut off as roads and bridges were destroyed. Also on that day, hail fell 6 inches deep in Flagstaff.

Whew – that's a bad weather day!

Now with the caveat that today's state highways are paved and built to stand up to savage weather, this bit of history shows that sometimes Mother Nature will pull out all the stops, including while you are driving.

That's why we are constantly reminding people to check the weather along their routes before hitting the road. If you encounter weather while driving, remember some common-sense safety tips:

  • Expect the unexpected. Have extra supplies, including a fully charged cellphone, drinking water and an emergency kit in case you experience an extended highway closure.
  • Before you drive, inspect your windshield wipers, and replace them if necessary.
  • When faced with low- or zero-visibility conditions, pull your vehicle off the road as far to the right as possible. Turn off your lights, set the parking brake and take your foot off the brake pedal. These steps reduce the chances that other drivers mistake your vehicle as the one to follow. As we always say, Pull Aside, Stay Alive!
  • Don't risk crossing a flooded wash, even if it doesn't look deep. Water is a powerful force that should not be underestimated. Even a few inches of running water poses a serious risk.
  • Turn on your headlights while driving in heavy rain or snow.
  • Reduce your speed and maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

Our website has these and a plethora of other tips for any driving conditions you might encounter including snow and icerainstorms and dust storms. 

No one knows when we'll have another day like in 1917, but the least you can do is make sure you are prepared, just in case.

Seriously, don't park in tall grass

Seriously, don't park in tall grass

SR24-1

Seriously, don't park in tall grass

Seriously, don't park in tall grass

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications
July 10, 2019

If you drove on a state highway in Arizona last weekend, there’s a good chance you saw wildfire prevention messages on overhead signs.

The messages read, “Parking in tall brush can start a wildfire,” and, “Don’t drag chains, one spark can start a wildfire.”

Some drivers, however, didn’t take the messages seriously. At least two of the 46 brushfires that ignited during the Independence Day weekend (July 4-7) were caused by vehicles that drove off-road and into brush, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

A vehicle’s undercarriage is very hot and when it’s near or in contact with dry shrubs or tall grass, the vegetation can begin to smolder and then ignite, starting a brush fire that can quickly turn into a wildfire.

Already, the number of acres burned this year in Arizona is double compared to last year. Let’s all do our part and follow these tips that can prevent our vehicles from igniting a wildfire:

  • Check and secure tow chains, and never substitute parts when towing.
  • Make sure nothing is hanging beneath your vehicle and dragging on the pavement.
  • Check tire pressure before you travel. Exposed wheel rims can cause sparks.
  • Don’t park in tall grass, as the heat from a vehicle’s undercarriage can start a fire.

For more information on how to prevent fires, please visit wildlandfire.az.gov.

From the Director: Man's best friend safety message wins ADOT contest

From the Director: Man's best friend safety message wins ADOT contest

SR24-1

From the Director: Man's best friend safety message wins ADOT contest

From the Director: Man's best friend safety message wins ADOT contest

June 17, 2019

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

We've revealed the winners in ADOT’s third annual Safety Message Contest. Three years we’ve been running this engaging contest.

That’s 21 dog years.

What?

I make that connection because one of the winning messages relates to man’s best friend. Submitted by Mitzie Warner of Chandler, the safety message “Drive like the person your dog thinks you are,” received about a third of the 5,000 votes cast, burying the other 14 finalists like a favorite bone.

Though I’m a cat owner – lovable Mr. Squeakers has been part of our family for 11 years – I understand the desire to live up to being the purr-fect people our pets believe us to be. Making safe and smart decisions behind the wheel, like choosing not to drive recklessly, distracted or impaired, is a great start.

The other winning message, submitted by David Posey of San Tan Valley, was a clever play on words: “Drink and drive? Meet police and see new bars.” Both winning messages will be displayed on overhead messages this weekend statewide.

Drive safely on the roads this week. Make your dog proud.


Director-Halikowski-headshot

 

   This post originally appeared on ADOT Director John Halikowski's 
   LinkedIn page. He has led the agency since 2009.
 

 

Entering our message contest? There's lots of competition already

Entering our message contest? There's lots of competition already

SR24-1

Entering our message contest? There's lots of competition already

Entering our message contest? There's lots of competition already

April 26, 2019

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

You’re outdoing yourself, Arizona.

Within 24 hours of launching our Safety Message Contest, we’d received more than 1,400 entries. After 48 hours the total number of submissions had climbed to 2,000.

We’re thrilled to see so many taking an interest in encouraging drivers to make better decisions behind the wheel. One of our goals in posting quirky safety messages on overhead signs is to start conversations about safe driving and this contest does that, too.

Skimming through the entries, we saw personal stories and were reminded why it’s important for all of us to make better choices while driving. Distracted drivers, speeders and people who don’t use turn signals have been popular topics. And some referenced bands and singers that will perform concerts in Phoenix soon, the most recent Avenger’s movie and Game of Thrones.

It’s not too late to enter. Entries can be submitted through Monday, April, 29. After that, we’ll whittle down the submissions to 15 finalists and let the public vote for their favorite.

ADOT employee helps save couple from carbon monoxide poisoning

ADOT employee helps save couple from carbon monoxide poisoning

SR24-1

ADOT employee helps save couple from carbon monoxide poisoning

ADOT employee helps save couple from carbon monoxide poisoning

February 25, 2019

By Dani Weber / ADOT Communications

Not all freeway emergencies look like crashes. Sometimes they look like a vehicle slowly drifting to where it shouldn’t be.

Thanks to Jose Baeza, an ADOT employee who helps oversee litter pickup, landscaping, graffiti removal and freeway sweeping, two motorists were rescued from a silent emergency recently near a Loop 303 interchange ramp.

At around 2 a.m., Baeza was inspecting sweeper operations when he noticed a car at the gore point with its brake lights on. He stopped and when he knocked on the driver-side window, the two elderly occupants didn’t respond.

The car began to move and hit the wall, so Baeza moved his truck and put on his lights to warn traffic coming onto the on-ramp. The driver eventually awoke, and he seemed confused and disoriented. Baeza advised him to put the car in park, turn off the ignition and hand over his keys. The elderly woman continued to be nonresponsive.

Baeza contacted ADOT's Traffic Operations Center and remained at the scene until the Phoenix Fire Department and Department of Public Safety arrived. Both motorists appeared to be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning and were taken to the hospital.

“We have CPR training to prepare for incidents like this, but this is the first time it’s ever happened to me,” Baeza said. “I was nervous at first, but I stayed until the fire department and DPS got there, and I feel good about it. It could’ve been a lot worse.”

John Zandler, who supervises Baeza and others in the maintenance unit, said, "From my point of view, it’s all too easy to pass those cars by when you’re focused on your work. Baeza went out of his way to help them."

Thanks to Baeza’s attention, commitment to serving Arizona’s public and quick thinking, both motorists received the medical attention they needed and have fully recovered.