No Result
View All Result
SUBSCRIBE
The Upper Middle
  • All News
    • Business
    • Commentary
    • Community
    • Culture
    • Education
    • Events
    • Family
    • Food & Drink
    • Lifestyle & Fitness
    • Local News
    • Real Estate
  • Business Directory
The Upper Middle
  • All News
    • Business
    • Commentary
    • Community
    • Culture
    • Education
    • Events
    • Family
    • Food & Drink
    • Lifestyle & Fitness
    • Local News
    • Real Estate
  • Business Directory
No Result
View All Result
SUBSCRIBE
The Upper Middle
No Result
View All Result

Drivers: Do You Know What To Do In A Dust Storm?

  • June 11, 2019
  • theumphx
  • The Upper Middle

While the exact moment of when the first massive wall of dust will rise up from the desert floor isn’t known, we do know this: It’s coming.

With June 9-14 officially proclaimed Monsoon Awareness Week by Governor Doug Ducey, now is the perfect time to brush up on the actions drivers can take to stay safest when confronted with blowing dust.

The No. 1 thing motorists can do to stay out of harm’s way? Do not drive in a dust storm! That is the advice that the Arizona Department of Transportation is conveying to Arizona residents.

Driving in a dust storm is always a really bad idea. Visibility can drop to zero and turn pitch black, meaning you’re driving blind and so is anyone else on the road with you. But maybe you’re curious and wonder, “Just how dark and dangerous could it be?” Well, we’ve got the answers. This video shows how quickly visibility is reduced to nearly nothing after driving into a dust storm.  Watch this video to see the aftermath of a 19-vehicle collision that occurred in 2013 in dust storm on Interstate 10 near Picacho Peak that resulted in three fatalities and a dozen injured people.

So you are ow convinced to not make the decision to drive into the towering wall of dust. But what if a dust channel whips across the highway in front of you, engulfing your vehicle in a swirling sandstorm? Remember these words: Pull Aside, Stay Alive.

ADOT has developed the following “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” dust storm safety driving tips, which can help motorists survive a blowing dust event.

  • If you encounter a dust storm, 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. You do not want other vehicles, approaching from behind, to use your lights as a guide and possibly crash into your parked vehicle.
  • Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
  • Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.

More information on dust storm safety can be found at PullAsideStayAlive.org and safety tips for driving in rainstorms can be found at azdot.gov/monsoon.

Sponsored Ad

RECENT NEWS

Kids Events Guide at Phoenix Museums This Summer

Inside the Boutique Experience at Cordially Phoenix

Bad Jimmy’s Opens New Location in Phoenix

A Summer Escape in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter

Where To Go for a Summer Happy Hour in Phoenix

Best Boutiques in San Diego

Next Post
Best Books To Gift This Father’s Day

Best Books To Gift This Father’s Day

Fose + McKay Fose + McKay Fose + McKay
The Upper Middle Phoenix
The Upper Middle Phoenix (The UM) is your go-to source for local news, events, business updates, and culture in Arcadia, North Central Phoenix, and Biltmore. We also cover Paradise Valley and Downtown Phoenix, bringing you the latest on food & drink, real estate, outdoor activities, and community happenings.
Connecting the Upper Middle Neighborhoods of Phoenix - Arcadia, Biltmore, North Central

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

SUBSCRIBE

©2025 The Upper Middle 1801 East Camelback Road, Suite 201, Phoenix, AZ 85016 / 602.222.4700 / [email protected] 

Max Fose – Publisher | Privacy Policy | Advertise With Us | Media Kit | About The Upper Middle Phoenix

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
    • Business
    • Commentary
    • Community
    • Culture
    • Education
    • Events
    • Family
    • Food & Drink
    • Lifestyle & Fitness
    • Local News
    • Real Estate
  • Business Directory
Connecting the Upper Middle Neighborhoods of Phoenix - Arcadia, Biltmore, North Central

©2025 The Upper Middle 1801 East Camelback Road, Suite 201, Phoenix, AZ 85016 / 602.222.4700 / [email protected]