As Arizona's monsoon season looms, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is spearheading efforts to educate drivers on the perils of extreme weather conditions, from blinding dust storms to torrential downpours. In collaboration with state agencies such as the Arizona Department of Health Services, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, and the National Weather Service, the ADOT is actively participating in Monsoon Awareness Week, taking place June 8-14, sharing crucial advice aimed at keeping motorists out of harm's way.
Travelers in Arizona are facing a formidable opponent in the form of dust storms that can strike with little warning, slashing visibility and elevating the risks on the highways. As described in a statement obtained by ADOT's news update, the agency emphasizes the crucial tactic of avoidance, urging drivers to "not drive into the dust storm" at all. For those caught by a dust storm while still on the road, the "Pull Aside, Stay Alive" campaign outlines a series of steps to minimize the danger: checking surrounding traffic, slowing down, and then pulling off the highway onto a safe area, making sure not to stop in travel lanes or on the shoulder.
With the simple turn-off of all vehicle lights, including hazard signals, to avoid misleading other motorists, drivers are advised to wait out the storm with their seatbelts fastened safely. Past events have shown how the seemingly benign lights of a vehicle can lead other cars astray, attracting them like moths to a flame and resulting in needless collisions.
The monsoon season is notorious for not only dust but also flash floods and thunderstorms. ADOT urges drivers to "expect the unexpected" when driving in heavy rain, advising extra caution such as increasing stopping distance and avoiding the rush to cross flooded washes or ignoring "road closed" signs.
To help keep travelers informed, ADOT suggests using resources like the Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the AZ511 mobile app, or by simply calling 511.
