In Arizona and other Southwest states, dust storms can pop up at any time of the year, but most frequently occur during the monsoon season of June to September.
If you’re driving a vehicle and see a dust storm ahead, the most important thing to do is to not drive into it. That’s because visibility can drop to zero, leaving you and others driving blind, making for a dangerous situation.
If you encounter a dust storm and don’t have time to exit the highway, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has developed this “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” video below to help you know what to do to get home safely.
Watch the short video.
Follow this advice:
• Immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
• 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.
• 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.
• Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers: You do not want other vehicles approaching from behind to use your lights as a guide, possibly crashing into your parked vehicle.
• Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
• Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
Drivers of high-profile vehicles, and that includes RVs, should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.
MORE SAFE DRIVING TIPS
- Blowing in the wind: Truckers’ tips for safe driving
- Watch in horror as this truck slides down the highway. Know these safe driving tips
- Study finds dashboard touchscreens reduce driving safety
- Changing driving habits could be early indicator of dementia
- Tips for safe RV driving on snow or ice
RVDT2940
