SUMMER DRIVING TIPS: PHOENIX EDITION

November 28, 2017

Living in the Phoenix area during the summer months means getting used to the excessive heat that takes over between May and September. There are other things to look out for though besides the extreme heat here in the Valley, things like extreme weather that can make driving particularly hazardous.

Below are some tips on how to best navigate the roadways during the summer, so that you can enjoy all that these “warmer” months have to offer.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Haboob

One of the most dangerous weather events that happens in the Valley are haboobs. These events, named after the Middle Eastern word meaning “dust storm,” are very common in the desert, especially during monsoon season (more on that later), which causes thunderstorms to push air down and stir up large quantities of dust.

Mixing this dust with winds exceeding upwards of 60 mph will cause an enormous wall of dust to form. This dust and wind combination makes driving during a haboob highly dangerous with the dust not only causing low to zero visibility, but also causing large amounts of debris to be blown around the highways.

Experts recommend never driving during a haboob, but instead waiting for the storm to clear and the wind to die down.

If you do find yourself out in the middle of a haboob, simply pull over to the side of the road, turn your lights off and wait it out.

Monsoons Are No Laughing Matter

Another unique part of living in the desert is experiencing the yearly weather occurrence called “Monsoon Season.”

This part of the year is dominated with this hazardous weather phenomena that includes a massive amount of rainfall and wind, all of which can result in unexpected flash flooding. All of these things are not to be underestimated, which is why its suggested that, as with haboobs, you wait out these types of storms at home, or either pull off to the side of the road until the storm passes.

According to Allstate, drivers who attempt to drive during these storms will be subject to Arizona’s “Stupid Motorist Law,” which “wages heavy fines on drivers who need rescuing after driving around barricades to attempt passing through a flooded area.”

Get Your Car Summer Ready

As with people, cars don’t like hot weather, which is why it’s best to bring your car in for a quick tune-up before things really start to heat up. This means having a certified technician check your:

Tires
Fluid Levels
Hoses
Battery
Brakes
Also, it’s vital that you stock your car with water every single time you leave the house, so that you have plenty of available fluids in case you suffer a breakdown, accident or blowout while driving.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »