PULL ASIDE ● STAY ALIVE

Don't drive into a DUST STORM! Pull Aside and Stay Alive!

In Arizona, dust storms most frequently occur during monsoon season (June-September) but they can pop up at any time of the year. If you're in a vehicle and a dust storm is approaching, the most important thing to do is to not drive into the dust storm. That's because visibility can drop to zero, leaving you and others driving blind and making for a dangerous situation.

If you encounter a dust storm and don't have time to exit the highway, ADOT has developed these "Pull Aside, Stay Alive" tips and video PSAs to help you know what to do to get home safely.

Will you know what to do

 

Safety Tips:

  • 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 should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.

Video PSAs for safe driving and dust storms:

 Dust Storm Video PSA

  Pull Aside, Stay Alive

 Dust Storm Video PSA

  Visibility can drop to zero in a dust storm.

 Dust Storm Video PSA (Español)

  ¿En dónde estarás cuando pase la tormenta de polvo?

 Dust Storm Video PSA (Español)

  Qué hacer si de repente te encuentras en medio de una tormenta de polvo.

 Dust Storm Video PSA

  What to do if you get caught in a dust storm.

Will you know what to do?

Download poster(s): English | Español

More Dust Storm videos

All ADOT dust storm video PSAs

En español: Tormentas de arena (dust storms)

Consejos e información para mantenerse seguro en los caminos de Arizona.

More from the ADOT Blog

Articles on Dust Storms, Dust Detection, and best practices for driving when dust storms are present.