A new smartphone app from the Arizona Department of Transportation is designed to help drivers avoid traffic congestion. 

The ADOT Alerts app sends real-time notifications about unexpected obstructions that completely stop traffic, such as accidents, dust storms or for those up north, snow. ADOT spokesman Doug Pacey explains how the app works.

“We’ll use the app. We’ll send out notifications and so people who are in that area, we use geofencing. Geofencing it makes it so we can basically set like a target area, and app users who are in that area, they receive it,” Pacey said.

The app is available for both iPhones and Androids.