June 15 marks the official Arizona monsoon start — and the state Department of Transportation is focusing on driver safety.
While the forecast calls for a relatively dry start in the Phoenix area, monsoons are powerful storms often preceded by dust and high winds that lead to heavy rain and lightning.
Kelsey Mo with ADOT said being cautious on the roads is vital for driver safety during monsoon storms.
“Even if there isn't necessarily oil coming up, the road will be slick anyway because of the rain and so regardless it's still a good idea to slow down and to give yourself extra breaking room,” Mo said.
These storms can cause flooding or low visibility on Arizona roads. Mo said not to tailgate other drivers to prevent unnecessary accidents. She also said to pull over on flooded roads and to turn off vehicle lights.
“You should slow down. You know the road conditions are not normal, and so what I mean by that is there is reduced visibility, the road might be slick because of water or rain," Mo said.
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If you find yourself behind the wheel when a dust storm or heavy rain hits, the Arizona Department of Transportation recommends pulling over until visibility improves. -
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