The Idaho Transportation Department is excited to announce the launch of a brand-new Incident Response Vehicle program, which will begin operation next week to assist drivers along key corridors in North Idaho. This initiative is designed to enhance safety by providing rapid response to disabled vehicles, minor crashes, and other roadside emergencies, allowing motorists to get safely off the highway with minimal delay or risk to other drivers.
The IVR will primarily patrol the I-90 corridor, focusing particularly on work zones where limited shoulders and a lack of space pose more risk for travelers experiencing difficulties. These high-priority areas include ongoing construction projects at the State Highway 41 Interchange and the upcoming four lane expansion between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene. Additionally, the truck will respond to incidents along the US-95 corridor stretching from the Spokane River Bridge to Lancaster Road through Coeur d’Alene.
The program will offer a wide range of services to assist drivers in need, including helping with flat tire changes, delivering small amounts of fuel for vehicles that have run out, jump-starting dead batteries, and even providing push or pull assistance for vehicles stuck in ditches following a crash or slide-off. The truck is fully equipped with the tools necessary to address minor maintenance issues and also has lights and signs to alert other drivers to a potential hazard while they work to clear the incident. Outside of keeping everyone safer, these free services are expected to save money by preventing costly congestion.
The new truck will be operated by a dedicated ITD operations employee and will be in service from Tuesday to Friday, between 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The schedule was created based on data analysis of traffic volume and incident trends to maximize the program’s impact during peak hours and will be subject to change with the season.
“We are excited to bring this vital service to North Idaho,” said Ryan Crabtree, ITD Business Operations Manager. “By providing this dedicated vehicle, we are not only helping drivers get back on the road more quickly but also improving safety for everyone by reducing the risks associated with stopped vehicles in high-traffic areas.”
The new program builds on the success of a similar initiative in the Treasure Valley region of Southern Idaho, which has been operational since 1997. In fact, this initial vehicle was donated by ITD’s southern district. District One plans to add an additional incident response truck to its fleet later this summer
This new program also aims to support law enforcement agencies by helping to alleviate some of their non-emergency calls for traffic issues. With the addition of ITD’s Incident Response Truck, local law enforcement can focus on more complex and urgent matters, while ITD staff handle minor incidents and roadside assistance. For more critical traffic incidents that require police investigation, the IRV can help to provide additional traffic control to ensure the safety of first responders and other drivers on the road.
“We look forward to working closely with local law enforcement agencies to ensure a coordinated response to incidents,” Crabtree said. “This collaboration will help ensure that our highways are safer and that we are meeting the needs of the community.”
ITD encourages drivers to slow down and “move over” in accordance with Idaho law when emergency vehicles like this one are operating.
Anyone finding themselves in need of assistance, especially through the work zones or on busy roadways, should report emergencies to 911 or non-emergencies to local law enforcement.