Another terrible, fatal accident on the 10, between Phoenix and Tucson involving a motorhome and many others; please be careful!/www.theepochtimes.com/n3/334761-i-10-crashes-3-dead-12-injured-after-arizona-dust-storm-crash/

Folks - I know a lot of full timers head towards Arizona this time of the year for our (mostly) wonderful weather. But once in a while a front comes through that whips up wind that is strong enough to cause one of these dust storms. If you see one ahead of you, the DPS suggests that you slow down, pull off the highway, come to a complete stop and turn off your lights (make sure you don't leave your foot on the brake pedal). If you wait until you're already in the dust to take action, it's too late. I've experienced these dust storms, and visibility can actually be so bad that you literally can't see the hood of your vehicle.

The big accident that happened on Hwy 10 is horrible and so sad. We're in Quartzsite and about 1 mile west of Hwy 95. Yesterday, you could hardly see the hills on the east side of the highway......but this morning everything is clear. :) As many times as we've been here, we've never experienced a dust storm like this. Thanks TucsonJim for the advice on what to do.....:)

The weather service had been predicting these conditions for two days. Alerts came through on our smart phones as well as every radio and TV station. As Mr. Myagi explained to Danielsan...."Best way, no be dere".Every year this same stretch of I-10 sees these sort of conditions and every year people needlessly die. Doesn't make any sense to me. :h

Desert Captain wrote:Every year this same stretch of I-10 sees these sort of conditions and every year people needlessly die. Doesn't make any sense to me. :h Some people were possibly trying to get to their job........people have reasons that we do not know why, to be on the highway. I don't put them down for it.......And according to the news reports we heard, this is unusual to have the dust storms this late in the year.

AZ dust | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Oct 30, 2013
The corridor between north Tucson and Casa Grande is noted for dust storms. They happen every year and we have been in a couple. They are the scariest thing you can imagine. The times we were in one the dust came immediately without warning. There is no way you can just pull off the highway. You can't see one foot in front of you when it happens. You cannot see it coming. You just cross your fingers that the drivers behind you are stopping, also. The storms we were in happened in the fall, winter and spring. We're out of here in summer but they happen in summer, too. The area is flat and farming country.

These 'dust storms' are very different from the 'haboob' dust storms. With the 'haboob' you can actually see a tall wall of dust approaching from a distance and with those you do have a chance to get off the highway.

We winter in the Tucson area and our daughter lives in the Phoenix area so we drive the stretch often. Now if there's a slight breeze we take an alternate route which is longer but much safer. From Tucson we take 79 through Florence and into Apache Junction - east of Phoenix. It's a very scenic route with minimal traffic - and no dust.

Some folks recommend RV parks in Casa Grande but we would never stay there for exactly these reasons. Plus, it's very unhealthy to be in that dust.

We would advise everyone who drives this area to get a good weather report on wind speed just before your drive if you're approaching the area between north Tucson and Casa Grande along I-10. Be safe out there!
leaddog
Explorer
Oct 30, 2013
I've often wondered how much of this dust is caused by the plowing of fields west of I-10 in this area during times of high winds. The soil is so dry and plowing, discing, etc always puts out a lot of dust.

Not accusing, just wondering.
Hank85713
Explorer
Oct 30, 2013
put the hazards on and the people will still think you are driving down the highway! I told all my family if confronted to get as far off the road as is possible, too many stupid people out there to just pull over and stop! We have a slow down or move over law for vehicle on the side of the road with hazard lights on mainly for protection of the individual, do many follow through? NO, again too stupid even when its posted every so often along the highways. Another stupid driver law is one that costs $$ when you bypass a do not enter flood area sign. We have some low tunnels for the RR's and they will fill up to as much as 15 feet, and stupid people still try to drive past the signs or not even look at the water tables if the signs are not up!

lotsa folks complain about AZ drivers, but know what? Many learned to drive and moved here from SOMEPLACE ELSE!
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Oct 30, 2013
Just another comment based on my experience. I've seen these storms coming from the front of my vehicle. I didn't wait for it to get to me. I jumped off the very next off ramp and parked in a safe spot. It passed and was clear enough to drive in about 10-15 minutes.

I've also had them coming from behind (stay aware). I drove at 75mph, which is the speed limit on I-10 in most places, and was barely able to keep pace with it.
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Oct 30, 2013
powderman426 wrote:
TucsonJim wrote:
bearvy wrote:
TucsonJim wrote:
Folks - I know a lot of full timers head towards Arizona this time of the year for our (mostly) wonderful weather. But once in a while a front comes through that whips up wind that is strong enough to cause one of these dust storms. If you see one ahead of you, the DPS suggests that you slow down, pull off the highway, come to a complete stop and turn off your lights (make sure you don't leave your foot on the brake pedal). If you wait until you're already in the dust to take action, it's too late.

I've experienced these dust storms, and visibility can actually be so bad that you literally can't see the hood of your vehicle.

Why is it recommended to "turn off your lights"?

No - All lights off. In those conditions, a driver may have to make a decision in a split second. If they see lights for even a fraction of a second, they may think that is the direction of the road. Check the link, they confirm it.

Thanks...just wondered.

Good question! They want you to turn off your lights because it may cause another driver to follow your vehicle thinking your are still on the road and still in motion. That's also the reason for taking your foot off the brake pedal so your brake lights aren't on.

As for the comment that they'd been predicting the storms for a couple of days.... That's true. But they can't pinpoint the specific area they'll hit or the exact time. In addition, we get these warnings many times a year, and most of the time nothing happens. So if you need to get on the road for any reason, you just need to be aware and know what to do if you encounter these conditions.

Here is a link to "Pull Aside - Stay Alive". Check out the video on the opening page to see how massive and fast these things move.
Pull Aside - Stay Alive

Would it not make more sense to pull off and turn on the four way flashers? That way you could still be seen and someone wouldn't think you were on the road.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Oct 30, 2013
There are always bad drivers, but bad weather magnifies their incompetence. Sorry for the victims.
obgraham
Explorer
Oct 30, 2013
That section of roadway is one the scariest I know, even in good weather. Lots of trucks, usually both lanes full, everyone moving at 5-10 over the limit. Add in rain, dust, wind, and darkness, but nothing slows the traffic.

I prefer the back way through Florence.
powderman426
Explorer
Oct 30, 2013
TucsonJim wrote:
bearvy wrote:
TucsonJim wrote:
Folks - I know a lot of full timers head towards Arizona this time of the year for our (mostly) wonderful weather. But once in a while a front comes through that whips up wind that is strong enough to cause one of these dust storms. If you see one ahead of you, the DPS suggests that you slow down, pull off the highway, come to a complete stop and turn off your lights (make sure you don't leave your foot on the brake pedal). If you wait until you're already in the dust to take action, it's too late.

I've experienced these dust storms, and visibility can actually be so bad that you literally can't see the hood of your vehicle.

Why is it recommended to "turn off your lights"?

Thanks...just wondered.

Good question! They want you to turn off your lights because it may cause another driver to follow your vehicle thinking your are still on the road and still in motion. That's also the reason for taking your foot off the brake pedal so your brake lights aren't on.

As for the comment that they'd been predicting the storms for a couple of days.... That's true. But they can't pinpoint the specific area they'll hit or the exact time. In addition, we get these warnings many times a year, and most of the time nothing happens. So if you need to get on the road for any reason, you just need to be aware and know what to do if you encounter these conditions.

Here is a link to "Pull Aside - Stay Alive". Check out the video on the opening page to see how massive and fast these things move.
Pull Aside - Stay Alive

Would it not make more sense to pull off and turn on the four way flashers? That way you could still be seen and someone wouldn't think you were on the road.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Oct 30, 2013
amandasgramma wrote:
Desert Captain wrote:

Every year this same stretch of I-10 sees these sort of conditions and every year people needlessly die. Doesn't make any sense to me. :h
Some people were possibly trying to get to their job........people have reasons that we do not know why, to be on the highway. I don't put them down for it.......And according to the news reports we heard, this is unusual to have the dust storms this late in the year.

There are alternate roads available that are not affected. They might take a little longer but it makes no sense to try and drive through an area that you know is going to be marginal at best. It is just like the folks who try and drive through flooded washes. This event was was completely preventable and therein lies the tragedy. :E
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Oct 30, 2013
bearvy wrote:
TucsonJim wrote:
Folks - I know a lot of full timers head towards Arizona this time of the year for our (mostly) wonderful weather. But once in a while a front comes through that whips up wind that is strong enough to cause one of these dust storms. If you see one ahead of you, the DPS suggests that you slow down, pull off the highway, come to a complete stop and turn off your lights (make sure you don't leave your foot on the brake pedal). If you wait until you're already in the dust to take action, it's too late.

I've experienced these dust storms, and visibility can actually be so bad that you literally can't see the hood of your vehicle.

Why is it recommended to "turn off your lights"?

Thanks...just wondered.

Good question! They want you to turn off your lights because it may cause another driver to follow your vehicle thinking your are still on the road and still in motion. That's also the reason for taking your foot off the brake pedal so your brake lights aren't on.

As for the comment that they'd been predicting the storms for a couple of days.... That's true. But they can't pinpoint the specific area they'll hit or the exact time. In addition, we get these warnings many times a year, and most of the time nothing happens. So if you need to get on the road for any reason, you just need to be aware and know what to do if you encounter these conditions.

Here is a link to "Pull Aside - Stay Alive". Check out the video on the opening page to see how massive and fast these things move.
Pull Aside - Stay Alive

Forum Discussion

AZ dust

26 Replies

About Bucket List Trips

Related Content

Wheel Dust Caps

Lost dust caps

Brake dust......ugh!

Dust proofing

Plastic Dust Caps