Ariz. asks for haikus to promote dust storm safety

Arizona transportation officials are getting the message out about dust storm safety — in precisely 17 syllables.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is encouraging Twitter users to tweet haikus around the theme safe driving in haboobs — severe dust storms that hit Phoenix in the summer.

An example, from Phoenix resident Mindy Lee, who goes by the Twitter handle mindyblee: "Haboobs blow through town / In one instant it is dark / Pull over and wait."

Transportation department spokesman Timothy Tait says the agency was looking for a creative way to engage residents in its "Pull Aside Stay Alive" campaign.

So far they've seen more than 30 entries and are re-tweeting some of the best ones.

Some examples are "Haboobs will blind you / They will take you by surprise / In doubt? Don't go out" and "The haboob hubbub/ The word glorifies dust walls/ Just keep yourself safe."

The haiku challenge runs through Friday. Tweeters are asked to include the hashtag (hash)HaboobHaiku.