With the monsoon Season upon us and a chance for dust storms here on a daily basis, These tips may come in handy if you are caught in a dust storm
Summertime brings unexpected and at times unpredictable dust storms. Dust storms are caused when high winds sweep across dry desert terrain, causing dust to engulf nearby highways. Dust storms are generally brief, but must be taken seriously because of blinding conditions on the highways. Dust storms have been attributed to many collisions resulting in loss of property, injury and death.
Dust storms are more common between the May and September in Phoenix and Tucson, Persons traveling during the summer and other times of year are encouraged to listen to weather reports on radio and television, especially during windy conditions. Weathermen report when dust storms are possible.
- Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.
- Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway — do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
- If you encounter a dust storm, check traffic immediately around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
- Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane; look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
- Stop the vehicle in a position ensuring it is a safe distance from the main roadway and away from where other vehicles may travel.
- Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers.
- Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
- Stay in the vehicle with your seat belts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
Nighttime: A Hazardous Time to Drive
Nighttime, especially Saturday night and early Sunday morning, is the most hazardous time to drive in Arizona. During 1990,
47.1 percent of Arizona's fatal accidents occurred between sunset and sunrise.
There are various factors for such tragic statistics, according to researchers at the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Some drivers exceed the speed limit, drink too much and try to drive home when they are too tired to do so. Then there are those who refuse to drive within the range of their vehicle's headlights.
Research indicates about six percent of this state's fatal traffic accidents occur on either Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
The majority of these accidents occur in clear weather and on dry pavement. So driver error plays a key role in highway death statistics. At DPS, we believe most motorists become more aware of highway safety when darkness diminishes their visibility. But there still are too many drivers who drive too dangerously, especially at nighttime.
