There are 14 open range signs on State Highway 51 from the Nevada border to north of Bruneau that flash when cows are near the highway. Despite these flashing alerts, livestock continue to be hit on this stretch, with four cows struck and killed in the past month alone.
Wilmer Biggs, a transportation technician with the Bruneau maintenance crew, says the highway serves mainly local traffic with drivers who could use a reminder of how collisions can affect them and the livestock. Biggs noted black cows are especially vulnerable to being struck because they are harder to see at night.
“I have come out the next morning after a cow was hit, and the baby is still standing by its dead mom,” Transportation Technician Wilmer Biggs said. “It’s tragic and can be avoided by slowing down and realizing this is an open range area. Drivers need to plan for cattle to be on this highway.”
Tips for driving in open range areas:
- Reduce speed at night: Visibility is limited, and black cows can blend into the darkness.
- Stay alert: Look for reflective eyes or movement near the road.
- Plan ahead: Assume cattle may be present, especially in known open range areas.
Biggs previously transformed advisory signs from a defunct federal radio alert system into flashing open range signs and hopes to convert more in the future. Read more here.
Open range cattle can be found on SH-51 and other Idaho highways year-round. Idaho is an open range state, meaning cattle and other livestock have the right of way. If livestock is hit on an open range, the owner of the animal is not liable for damages to the driver or the vehicle. Drivers may be liable for injuries or death of the animal if found to have been negligent.
For the first time ever, the Idaho Transportation Department and the Idaho State Police are teaming up to offer free, informative, and engaging winter driving safety classes in the Treasure Valley to help drivers prepare for icy roads and snowy conditions. This new initiative is designed to help drivers of all ages and experience levels navigate Idaho’s winter roads safely.
With many new residents in the Treasure Valley, there’s an increasing need for education on how to handle winter driving conditions. While the course is open to all drivers, it is particularly geared toward young drivers and those new to the area who may be facing their first winter driving season.
The class will be taught by ISP troopers and ITD operators, covering a wide range of important topics, including:
- Proper vehicle preparation
- Equipment for winter driving
- Understanding road conditions
- Driving tips for snow and ice
- How to handle crashes
- Snowplow safety
Seating is limited, and classes are filling up quickly. Attendees must register online to reserve a seat. Click here for Wednesday night class or click here for the Saturday morning class. Additional courses may be scheduled at a later date.
Class Schedule:
Wednesday, Dec. 4
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
ITD District 3 Building, 8150 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise, ID
Saturday, Dec. 7
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
ITD District 3 Building, 8150 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise, ID
*New class added!*
Register for Wednesday, Dec. 11
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
ITD District 3 Building, 8150 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise, ID
Winter weather can be unpredictable, especially on the roads. As a driver, your first and last line of defense is your seat belt. Starting today, more police officers will be on the roads for a statewide seat belt enforcement campaign.
From Friday, November 22 through the end of the month, over 50 state and local law enforcement agencies are partnering with the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety (OHS) for extra patrols focused on seat belt safety.
During the winter there is a lot that is outside of our control, from the weather to the behavior of other drivers. “What happens in your car is totally under your control, so slow down, drive engaged and buckle up. Let your seat belt do its job of saving your life in the event of a crash,” explained OHS Occupant Protection Program Specialist Tabitha Smith.
If you are in a crash, a buckled seat belt reduces your risk of death by 45% and risk of serious injury by 50%. Last year, 85 people in vehicles who were not buckled up died in traffic crashes.
Data from OHS’s annual seatbelt survey shows that 86% of Idahoans wear their seatbelts. Expect to see more police on the roads in the next few weeks focusing on stopping and educating drivers about seat belt safety, and hopefully saving lives.
The Idaho Transportation Department and Idaho State Police are teaming up to provide a free, informative and engaging winter driving safety class next Thursday as the region prepares for icy roads and adverse weather.
While this course is beneficial for drivers of all ages and skill levels, it is especially geared to young drivers and anyone new to the area who may be preparing for his or her first winter driving season.
Courses will be taught by ISP troopers and ITD operators, covering a wide range of topics from proper vehicle preparation, equipment, road conditions, crashes, and snowplow safety. Participants who attend the course will receive a certificate of completion and be eligible for a 10% discount on a set of new snow tires at the Twin Falls Blue Lakes Les Schwab Tire location.
Thursday, November 14
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Idaho State Police Department
418 W Yakima Ave
Jerome, ID
Seating is limited. Attendees must register online to reserve a seat. Additional courses may be scheduled at a later date.
The Idaho Transportation Department and Idaho State Police are teaming up to provide a free, informative and engaging winter driving safety class on Nov. 20 in Lewiston as the region prepares for icy roads and adverse weather.
While this course is beneficial for drivers of all ages and skill levels, it is especially geared to young drivers and anyone new to the area who may be preparing for his or her first winter driving season.
The course will be taught by ISP troopers and ITD operators, covering a wide range of topics from proper vehicle preparation, equipment, road conditions, driving tips, crashes and snowplow safety.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20
3 – 4:30 PM
A Neil DeAtley Career Technical Education Center
3201 Cecil Andrus Way
Lewiston, ID 83501
Seating is limited. Attendees should register online.
Additional course may be scheduled at a later date.
EASTERN IDAHO – The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Idaho State Police (ISP), as well as Chubbuck and Bonneville County Police Departments are teaming up to provide free, informative and engaging winter driving safety classes through November as the region prepares for icy roads and adverse weather.
While these courses are beneficial for drivers of all ages and skill levels, they are especially geared to young drivers and anyone new to the area who may be preparing for their first winter driving season.
The course will be taught by ISP Troopers, local law enforcement officers and ITD Operators, covering a wide range of topics from proper vehicle preparation, equipment, road conditions, driving tips, crashes, and snowplow safety.
Participants who attend the course will receive a certificate of completion and be eligible for a 10% discount on a set of new snow tires at participating Les Schwab Tires locations.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Rocky Mt, Middle School Auditorium
3443 N. Ammon Rd.
Idaho Falls, ID
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Chubbuck City Hall
290 East Linden Ave.
Chubbuck, ID
Seating is limited and classes are filling up quickly! Attendees should register online-click here for the Idaho Falls class or click here for the Chubbuck class to reserve a seat. Additional courses may be scheduled at a later date.
Idaho’s eighth graders have just one week left to help name the Idaho Transportation Department’s snowplows! The first annual ITD Name a Snowplow contest ends on Thursday, October 31.
Eighth grade teachers are invited to submit a name picked by their classes to ITD. Those names will be voted on by ITD employees, and 12 names will be chosen for snowplows this year. ITD chose to ask eighth graders for the names because they are close to getting their learner’s permits and entering driver’s education.
ITD is collecting names through an online form (please only submit if you are teacher or homeschool parent). Educational materials about snowplow safety were also provided through the Department of Education newsletter. If you missed them, email itdcommunication@itd.idaho.gov for a copy.
Contest winners will be announced by early January. The names will be featured on the plows’ blades. The winning classrooms will receive recognition and a special visit from the snowplow they helped name.
Full contest rules can be found on ITD’s website.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and Idaho Department of Education are working together to kick off the first ever annual ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest. Other states and highway departments across the country conduct similar campaigns with great success.
Starting October 1, eighth grade students across Idaho are invited to participate with their classrooms to submit a name. Contest entries will be accepted through the month of October with winning names announced by 2025.
“Our snowplow drivers are very thankful to schools that are able to join this fun educational opportunity and help increase winter driving safety awareness!” ITD Chief Operations Officer and Deputy Director Dan McElhinney said.
Two plows in each of six Idaho regions will be selected through voting by ITD employees. Winning names will be displayed directly on ITD plows, with winners awarded a visit to their school by that plow and driver to talk about winter safety. News media will also be invited to attend plow naming events.
This contest is a partnership between ITD and the Idaho Department of Education for teachers in eighth grade classrooms to opt in, with the hopes of sharing winter driving safety messages as this age group will soon be in driver’s education classes. Another goal of adding unique names on plows is to cause all drivers to take a second look and be patient when driving through the winter.
“This contest is such a fun way to engage students with a safety message that’s essential to our young drivers, especially as the weather cools and winter approaches,” Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said. “I’m grateful for the partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department and am definitely looking forward to seeing some student-named plows on the road this winter.”
More information regarding the contest winners and plow naming events will be released once the submission and voting deadlines have passed.
Contest rules can be found on ITD’s website.
For the first time ever, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is naming snowplows! Name A Snowplow is a fun way to spread awareness about snowplow safety, foster a sense of ownership among the community, and teach future drivers how to be safe when driving near snowplows. We are partnering with the Idaho Department of Education to collect name ideas from Idaho 8th graders. This age group was selected because they are about to attend driver’s education.
We are asking 8th grade classrooms to come up with names and submit them by October 31, 2024. Instructions for how to submit names will be distributed to teachers through the Idaho Department of Education. ITD will also distribute educational materials about snowplow safety.
Contest Rules:
Eligibility
- Open to 8th grade classrooms.
- Classrooms must be located in Idaho.
Submission Guidelines
- One name per classroom.
- Names must be appropriate | MAX 15 characters (including spaces).
- Submit name via Microsoft Form (Please only submit if you are teacher or homeschool parent).
*If the same name is submitted by multiple classrooms, only the first entry received will be considered.
Selection Process
- Names must be submitted by October 31.
- ITD employees will vote on submissions in November.
- 12 winning names will be selected—two from each of Idaho’s six regions—and winners announced by early January. Names will be featured on the plows’ blades.
- Winning classrooms will receive recognition and a special visit from the snowplow bearing its chosen name. Media will be invited to cover the event.
Additional Information
- Classrooms are free to conduct their own internal voting to select their submission.
- Submissions that do not meet the criteria will be disqualified.
- By submitting a snowplow name, you grant ITD all rights to use, display and publish the name for promotional purposes.
Timeline
- Classrooms submit names October 1 to 31, 2024.
- ITD Employees vote on names in November 2024.
- Winners announced December 2024.
- Plow visits with winning classrooms/schools December 2024 through January 2025.
Interested in participating?
Flying cheerios, missing socks— backseat riders can get a little out of control. One thing you can control is your child’s safety. It’s National Child Passenger Safety Week (September 15-21) and a great time to make sure your child’s car seat fits. The Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) has partnered with organizations around the state for National Seat Check Saturday on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Last year in Idaho there were 2,538 crashes involving a child passenger between 0-6 years old. 515 of those kids were unrestrained in the vehicles. Two children died, one was in a car seat, one was not.
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study found that while most parents and caregivers believe they know how to properly install their car seats, about half (48%) have installed their child’s car seat incorrectly. An appointment with a professional Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technician can go a long way in protecting kids and giving parents peace of mind.
“CPS technicians undergo extensive training,” says Tabitha Smith, Program Manager for Occupant Protection in Idaho and former CPS Technician. “It’s not something that’s taught in a couple-hour class. It’s three to four days long. So when we send people to technicians, they truly know what they’re talking about.”
This week in Idaho there are many free seat check events coming up on Seat Check Saturday and beyond:
| North Idaho |
|
|
|
|
| Agency |
City |
Address |
Date |
Time |
| Safe Start /St. Mary’s Health |
Cottonwood |
701 Lewiston St, Cottonwood, ID 83522 |
9/19/2024 |
1 pm to 4 pm |
| Southwest Idaho |
|
|
|
|
| Agency |
City |
Address |
Date |
Time |
| Thrive Pediatrics Pinnacle Clinic |
Meridian
|
1435 E. Phenomenal St.
Meridian, ID 83642 |
9/28/24 |
9 am to 1 pm |
| Kuna Fire |
Kuna |
150 W Boise St, Kuna, ID 83634 |
9/21/2024 |
10 am to 4 |
| Mountain Home Air Force Base |
Mountain Home |
355 Alpine St, Mountain Home AFB, ID 83648 |
9/21/2024 |
Call for Appointment
208-828-7349 |
| St. Luke’s |
Meridian |
500 S Eagle Rd.
Meridian, 83642 |
9/21/24 |
10 am to 2 pm |
| Emmett Fire |
Emmett |
231 S Washington Ave, Emmett, ID 83617 |
9/21/2024 |
9 am to 12 pm |
| McCall Fire |
McCall |
201 Deinhard Ln, McCall, ID 83638 |
9/21/2024 |
9 am 2 pm |
| East Idaho |
|
|
|
|
| Agency |
City |
Address |
Date |
Time |
| Oneida – Nell Redfield Hospital |
Malad City |
150 200 W, Malad City, ID 83252 |
9/20/2024 |
10 am |
| Caribou County Sheriff |
Soda Springs |
475 E 2nd S, Soda Springs, ID 83276 |
9/21/2024 |
11 am |
| Blackfoot PD |
Blackfoot PD |
501 N Maple St #410, Blackfoot, ID 83221 |
9/21/2024 |
11 am |
| Grease Monkey Idaho Falls |
Idaho Falls |
2100 Channing Way, Idaho Falls, ID 83404 |
9/28/2024 |
10 am to 2 pm |
| Teton Valley Health |
Driggs |
120 E Howard Ave, Driggs, ID 83422 |
9/28/2024 |
9 am to noon |
At these seat check events, certified child passenger safety technicians will check if a car seat is the right type for a child’s age and size, check that it fits correctly, and that it is properly installed in the vehicle.
Several organizations also provide seat check appointments year-round. Visit OHS’s online map to find a provider near you and make an appointment.
For more details on what to expect at a seat check appointment, check out OHS’s blog.
