Safety Archives

Apr 07

Put the phone down: April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

A Distracted Driving Awareness graphic urging people to keep their eyes on the road.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 3,308 people were killed in 2022 due to Distracted Driving.

The month of April serves as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Alabama Department of Transportation looks to bring light to the importance of safe and focused driving.

Distracted driving can be classified as anything that takes…

Apr 03

Temporary road closure planned on SR-63 in Alexander City

The Alabama Department of Transportation will replace the bridge over Sugar Creek and adjust grade along SR-63 from Milepost 27.925 to Milepost 28.334 (US-280 Intersection).

This project will require the closing of SR-63 within the Milepost given for a period of approximately 8 months. A detour route utilizing SR-128, Coven Abbett Road and US 280…

Apr 03

Inside ALDOT’s Traffic Management Centers

A Traffic Management Center operator works at his computer.

In a dimly lit room lined with monitors streaming live footage from nearly 190 cameras, the operators at the Alabama Department of Transportation’s (ALDOT) Traffic Management Centers (TMC) work tirelessly to keep the state’s roads safe and traffic flowing.

The centers, operating 24/7, are hubs for real-time coordination between motorists, law enforcement and engineers –…

Mar 20

Alabama 2023 Crash Facts report now available

Did you know that 975 people died from crashes on Alabama roads in 2023?

This, as well as other Alabama crash facts, are in the 2023 edition of Alabama Crash Facts, recently released online at the Drive Safe Alabama website.

The Alabama Crash Facts report contains some of the data that the Alabama Department of…

Mar 19

ALDOT crews respond quickly after recent storms

ALDOT crews are working tirelessly to clear debris and restore US-82 in Gordo.

When forecasters predicted severe storms and tornadoes for Alabama last weekend, the Alabama Department of Transportation pre-positioned crews to respond quickly. The rumble of the storm had barely faded when ALDOT’s storm response kicked into high gear.

ALDOT’s priorities were to safely deploy crews to assess damage, clear debris and make any necessary repairs…

Mar 12

Five years later, a look back at the US-231 landslide

Amidst the trees, a bare mountainside, where a landslide has been excavated. Bridges are under construction. The photo is an aerial view looking south, up the mountain.

Five years ago today, ALDOT leaders met with concerned residents from several north Alabama counties to unveil an ambitious plan to repair US-231 after a landslide destroyed parts of the highway in Morgan County.

One month earlier, heavy rain triggered the slide on Brindley Mountain, opening large cracks in the pavement as material shifted below….

Mar 06

Safety improvement projects awarded in 2024

Alabama drivers and pedestrians in 2025 will find enhanced road and highway safety in their communities. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has awarded more than $43 million as part of its 2024 safety improvement grant programs.

Projects benefiting from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and Local Road Safety Initiative Program (LRSI) include improvements to…

Mar 04

High-Friction Surface Treatment Makes Wallace Tunnel Safer

Westbound entrance Wallace Tunnel I-10 Mobile

Drivers in the Wallace Tunnel now have a safer experience thanks to a new road treatment designed to improve traction and reduce the risk of crashes. The application of a high-friction surface treatment (HFST) enhances safety by increasing tire grip, particularly in areas where roadway conditions make vehicles more prone to skidding or losing control.

Mar 03

Vehicle Safety Recalls Week: March 3-9, 2025

NHTSA graphic reading Add checking for vehicle safety recalls to your routine

Over 20 million vehicles were recalled in the United States in 2024, due to nearly 1,000 separate issues that posed safety risks.

Car recalls occur when a manufacturer, consumers or the federal government finds a defect in a car that causes it not to meet federal safety standards. As a result, manufactures must notify consumer…

Feb 28

ALDOT hosted a UAS peer exchange

UAS professionals standing near a dome shapes blue object with an anchor on it in Mobile, AL for a peer exchange for UAS/drone technology.

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) hosted a Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Peer Exchange on “Strategic Evolution & Future Sustainable Growth,” uniting UAS professionals from state transportation agencies across the Southeast and Puerto Rico.

The exchange allowed participants to share insights, discuss best practices and explore UAS technology’s future in transportation. From operational strategies to…