Category: Safety

BOISE — As winter weather returns to Idaho, the Idaho Transportation Department and Idaho State Police are partnering to launch a statewide Winter Driving Safety Campaign. The initiative aims to reduce crashes and fatalities by promoting safe driving habits, snowplow awareness, and enforcement of seat belt and impaired driving laws.

“Each winter we see too many crashes that could have been avoided,” ISP Major Shawn Staley said. “Driving too fast for conditions and following too closely are among the top causes when roads are icy. And wearing your seat belt is the best defense in a crash–every time.”

Despite progress, 14% of Idahoans still aren’t buckling up. In recent years, unrestrained occupants accounted for a majority of fatalities in crashes statewide.

Holidays can be very tough for families who have lost someone. Wearing a seatbelt is proven to be the most effective way to survive a crash,” said Josephine Middleton, Highway Safety Manager at OHS. “Talk to your family about buckling up every time they get into a vehicle to avoid an unnecessary tragedy.”

In addition to seat belt patrols, ISP will conduct emphasis patrols targeting impaired driving. In Idaho, 86 lives were lost to impaired driving in 2024.

Drivers are urged to follow these safety tips:

• Always wear a seat belt.
• Never drive impaired; plan a sober ride in advance.
• Slow down and increase following distance in snow, ice, or rain.
• Avoid distractions and stay alert for changing conditions.
• Give plows lots of room to work. The majority of snowplow strikes involve another vehicle passing too close or following too close and running into the plow. The front plow is 12 feet wide, and a wing plow is 10 feet wide on the right. Plows also have large blind spots.

ITD encourages drivers to prepare vehicles with snow tires, emergency kits, and full fuel tanks. Before traveling, check road conditions at 511.idaho.gov and monitor forecasts at weather.gov.

Together, ITD and ISP are working to ensure every journey ends safely.

BOISE — The Idaho Transportation Department and Office of Highway Safety are joining communities statewide to recognize Teen Traffic Safety Week, October 19–25, 2025. The week raises awareness about safe driving habits among teens and their families.

Teen drivers face unique risks on the road and are 2.6 times more likely to be in a crash. OHS encourages families, schools, and organizations to focus on four key safety reminders:

• Buckle up: Seat belts save lives. Every trip, every time.
• Avoid distractions: Keep phones and other distractions out of reach.
• Drive sober: Alcohol and drugs impair judgment and reaction time.
• Practice patience: Teens gain confidence through experience and mentorship.

“Teen drivers are among the most vulnerable on Idaho’s roads,” said Josephine Middleton, Highway Safety Manager. “By educating young drivers and their families, we can reduce crashes and make our roads safer for everyone.”

Middleton adds, “Our children are always watching and learning from us. If we tell our teens not to text and drive but they see us doing it, how much credibility do we really have? The best way to teach safe driving is to model it ourselves.”

OHS promotes safe driving through several initiatives:

• Backseat Driver’s Manual: Created with local students, this activity book teaches kids about safe driving and encourages family conversations.
• SHIFT Idaho: A statewide platform offering resources, materials, and community involvement opportunities focused on safe teen driving.
• Parent-Teen Driving Contracts: Helps families set clear expectations and responsibilities behind the wheel.
• Alive at 25: A defensive driving course that teaches young drivers how to make safe, responsible decisions.
• Driver Education Partnerships: In collaboration with the Idaho Department of Education and local driving schools, OHS supports quality driver education statewide.

Learn more about these programs and resources.

BOISE – There’s still time for Idaho students to help name one of ITD’s hard-working snowplows! The Idaho Transportation Department’s 2nd annual ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest is open through the end of October.

Classrooms in grades 6–12 can team up to submit creative snowplow names and learn about winter driving safety along the way.

“Our snowplow drivers are thrilled to see students getting involved in this fun, educational opportunity that also highlights the importance of winter driving safety,” said Scott Stokes, Director of ITD.

Two plows in each of ITD’s six regions will receive student-chosen names, voted on by ITD employees. The winning names will be displayed right on the plows, and each winning classroom will get a special visit from “their” snowplow and driver for a winter safety presentation.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this fun Idaho tradition in the making!

Teachers of grades 6–12 can submit entries or ask questions by emailing itdcommunication@itd.idaho.gov.

See full contest rules and view last year’s winners.

BOISE – The Idaho Transportation Department is excited to announce the 2nd annual ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest! The program invites Idaho students to submit creative names for ITD snowplows and learn about winter driving safety at the same time.

Beginning October 1, 6-12 grade classrooms across Idaho can work with their teachers to submit name ideas. Entries will be accepted throughout October, and the winning names will be announced by the end of the year.

“Our snowplow drivers are thrilled to see students getting involved in this fun, educational opportunity that also highlights the importance of winter driving safety,” said Scott Stokes, Director of ITD.

Two snowplows in each of ITD’s six regions will receive student-chosen names through voting by ITD employees. Winning names will appear directly on the plows, and each winning classroom will get a visit from “their” snowplow and driver for a winter safety presentation. Local news media will also be invited to attend these plow-naming events.

The contest is designed to help teachers introduce winter driving safety messages to students, some of whom may soon be in driver’s education classes. Adding distinctive names to plows also encourages all motorists to notice and be patient around these essential winter vehicles.

A big thank-you to the Department of Education for supporting this fun and educational opportunity.
See full contest rules.

Teachers 6-12 interested in having their class participate, contact: itdcommunication@itd.idaho.gov

View last year’s winners.

BOISE – During the 100 Deadliest Days, 88 people were killed in crashes on Idaho roads, according to preliminary data from the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS).

During this time, more people are on vacation, celebrating, or traveling, and risky driving behaviors tend to rise. Of the 60 people killed in motor vehicle crashes, 23 were not wearing seat belts. Nearly one-quarter of those killed this summer were motorcyclists.

“Every death is a tragedy,” said Jo Middleton, Highway Safety Manager. “We can save lives by always wearing a seat belt, driving engaged, driving sober, and slowing down so everyone can make it home safely.”

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and OHS are working hard to change this trend. In addition to gathering and sharing critical data, they are:

• Increasing public awareness with statewide campaigns to educate drivers about high-risk behaviors during the 100 Deadliest Days.
• Expanding enforcement efforts in partnership with local law enforcement to reduce impaired and aggressive driving and to boost seat belt use.
• Engaging communities with outreach programs and safety resources that help drivers make smarter choices.
• Enhancing and modernizing infrastructure to improve safety on Idaho’s roadways and reduce crash severity.

These efforts show ITD and OHS’s deep commitment to protecting Idahoans and saving lives, not just tracking statistics.

Top 10 Contributing Circumstances during the 100 Deadliest Days:

No seat belt use
Failure to maintain lane
Speeding
Alcohol impairment
Inattention
Driving left of center
Overcorrection
No helmet
Asleep, drowsy, or fatigued
Improper overtaking

Fatalities by ITD District and County (Preliminary):

District 1
Bonner – 1
Kootenai – 4

District 2
Benewah – 3
Idaho – 3
Nez Perce – 3

District 3
Adams – 1
Ada – 9
Boise – 3
Canyon – 8
Elmore – 5
Owyhee – 1
Payette – 1
Valley – 1

District 4
Cassia – 6
Gooding – 3
Jerome – 7
Lincoln – 1
Minidoka – 2
Twin Falls – 6

District 5
Bannock – 3
Bingham – 2
Oneida – 1
Power – 3

District 6
Bonneville – 4
Custer – 1
Fremont – 3
Madison – 3

*The 100 Deadliest Days are the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. All data is preliminary and subject to change.

BOISE – The Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is joining law enforcement agencies across the state for the 2025 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, running August 15 through September 1. The effort focuses on preventing impaired driving ahead of Labor Day, one of the deadliest times on Idaho roads.

The numbers are sobering. In 2024, impaired driving claimed 86 lives in Idaho. That’s 36% of all traffic fatalities in Idaho which is the equivalent of losing over three Idahoans every week to a preventable cause.

Nationwide, alcohol-impaired driving accounts for about 30% of all crash fatalities. In 2023 alone, 12,429 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. That’s one person every 42 minutes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“These aren’t just statistics,” said Josephine Middleton, ITD Highway Safety Manager. “Every number is a person; someone’s family member, friend, or coworker. This campaign is about more than the legal consequences of driving impaired. It’s about saving lives. If you’re impaired, don’t drive. It’s that simple.”

While these numbers are a stark reminder of what’s at stake, OHS also wants to highlight the everyday heroes who help prevent tragedy. The designated drivers, the friends who call a rideshare, and the people who plan ahead before their first drink. Every sober ride home is a life protected, a crash prevented, and a family kept whole.

ITD urges all Idahoans to join the movement to end impaired driving by following these simple steps:

• Use a sober driver, rideshare, or taxi.

• Never let friends drive impaired.

• Have a plan before the first drink.

Enforcement will be visible, and the message remains clear: Drive sober or get pulled over. But the ultimate goal is not to write tickets. It’s to make sure everyone makes it home safely.

For more information, visit shift-idaho.org.