Safe celebrations: Plan sober rides on New Year’s Eve and all of 2024

Idaho street in Boise with Christmas lights.

As Idahoans gear up for New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Idaho Transportation Department is reminding everyone to start 2024 right with a sober ride home. 2023 is on track to be one of the deadliest years on Idaho roads in the last 20 years.

So far this year 275* people have been killed on Idaho roads, surpassing last year’s total by 60 deaths. Of the total people killed in traffic crashes in Idaho last year, 51% involved impaired driving.

This weekend, ITD’s Office of Highway Safety (OHS) and over 50 law enforcement agencies across Idaho will collaborate to keep roads safe from impaired drivers.

While law enforcement will be on the lookout for drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol, everyone can play a part in preventing impaired driving crashes by:

Designating a sober driver or using a ride service.
If you’re the designated driver, stay alcohol-free.
Intervene if someone plans to drink and drive; take away their keys and arrange a safe ride.
Seat belts save lives — A seat belt increases your odds of surviving a crash by 50% and is your best defense against drunk drivers.

“Have an epic last night of 2023, and then get a sober ride home so you can have an amazing 2024 as well,” urged Highway Safety Manager Josephine Middleton.

*Preliminary data subject to change

Idaho DMV offering title and registration for concession trailers

Beginning January 1, 2024, the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will offer titles and registrations for concession trailers. After careful consideration and consultation with lenders and industry partners, the DMV has determined that concession trailers more closely align with utility trailers and should be titled and registered.

For all existing concession trailer owners, a title and registration will be optional yet encouraged. For concession trailers purchased after January 1, 2024, title and registration will be mandatory.

“Concession trailers existed in a gray area that created challenges for their owners. Because they were not treated as vehicles, it was difficult to secure interest,” explained Vehicle Services Manager CJ Kendrick. “We consulted with industry stakeholders and determined offering title and registration was the best path forward.”

There are several benefits to obtaining a title and registration. It provides a commonly recognized proof of ownership and a legal right to tow on highways.

Owners who want to title their concession trailer should bring all ownership and/or purchase documentation to a local DMV office so they can assist with the titling process. Owners must also bring the concession trailer, as a VIN inspection is required. Title and registration costs will vary by county and length of registration term.

Please note concession trailers are food service trailers pulled by another vehicle and are distinct from food trucks. Food trucks are powered vehicles and were already subject to title and registration requirements.

ITD looks to give ‘green light’ to better visibility on snow plows

A small number of snowplows in North Idaho are taking part in a preliminary testing program being used to assess the efficacy of increasing visibility on plows and reducing the number of strikes each winter.

These ultra-bright, LED lights are being put to the test not only to measure how effective they are, but also how well they stand up to the abuse of being attached to one of the hardest working members of a snow fighting team – the wing plow.

Science has proven that green and yellow are some of the most highly visible, detectable and recognizable colors on the spectrum to the human eye, both day and night, which is why green and amber have been selected as the colors for testing.

Often, even when it’s not actively snowing, the plows on these trucks kick up tremendous clouds of snow and slush making it extremely difficult for drivers to see the low-profile wing plow while crews work. No matter how often drivers are warned to never pass a plow on the right, inevitably there are those who either miss the memo, or are too impatient to heed the warning and that is typically when those plow strikes occur.

The hope is that these bright lights will produce enough illumination to shine through the sprays of snow, slush and ice and be a visual warning to motorists that there is dangerous equipment on the road ahead.

Compared to the heavy financial hit suffered each time a plow is struck these lights are an incredibly inexpensive and effective way to improve safety, each ringing in at around $300 in total for the parts and labor required to install them.

On the flip side, while the circumstances of each plow strike are unique, it is estimated that it costs the Idaho Transportation Department roughly $10,000 per incident in parts and labor to repair equipment damaged in an incident. In addition to the financial hit, the larger impact is often having a truck out of service for extended periods of time meaning additional strain on mechanics to get them fixed, and on plow crews to work harder with fewer resources to keep the roads safe.

If these lights prove successful over the 2023-2024 winter, ITD will likely do a more comprehensive pilot program next year including more trucks across broader areas throughout the state.

Green lights have been successfully adopted several state transportation departments including Utah and Montana, and in several cities and counties in eastern Washington. They are also currently being considered by Washington, Wyoming, and Oregon state transportation departments. “Having uniformity between neighboring agencies is another big reason we are trying this out,” said Fleet Operations Manager Ryan Crabtree This uniformity enhances safety by ensuring driver experiences and expectations remain the same from place to place as they travel throughout the Pacific Northwest.

A magical Christmas includes a sober ride home

An officer practices a field sobriety test

It’s almost Christmas! This weekend will be filled with festive parties and family get-togethers! As Idahoans celebrate the season, the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) urges everyone to include a sober ride home in their Christmas plans.

“All anyone wants for Christmas is to have everyone in their family there to enjoy it. Sadly, many families have lost loved ones to drunk driving related crashes. Give yourself or a friend the gift of a sober ride home when drinking, it could save a life and a lot of heartache,” encouraged Highway Safety Manager Josephine Middleton.

According to data from OHS, last year in Idaho there were 1,818 impaired driving crashes, and 110 people were killed.

To raise awareness, OHS recently kicked off an impairment campaign featuring videos of five volunteers at an alcohol impairment workshop called a wet lab. A behind-the-scenes video posted by an attendee at the wet lab recently went viral with millions of views on social media.

Wet labs are a controlled environment designed to show all involved, from volunteer drinkers to police officers, that legal drinking limits aren’t always safe driving limits. Impairment happens faster than drivers might think. Volunteer drinkers learn that even a small amount of alcohol can slow their reaction time and make them unsafe to drive.

Watch the videos.

For more information on impaired driving visit shift-idaho.org/wet-lab/ and shift-idaho.org/beheretomorrow/.

Commercial special permits: bulk renewal and cost savings

A semi passes the east entrance to Aht'Wy Plaza on US-12 near Lewiston.

Idaho commercial vehicle customers can now renew annual special permits in bulk online at permits4idaho.com and save money in the process.

Customers can save $5 per permit when renewing online at permits4idaho.com. Bulk renewals also save time over renewing annual permits individually.

Permits4idaho.com also has a new Company Dashboard to easily manage your permits. Now customers can renew and pay for annual permits online in bulk, order special permits for overweight and/or over-dimensional loads, and remove annual permits that they no longer need. The site displays a notification when permits are 30 days from expiring.

Find the link to the instructions for the annual renewal process at Trucking.idaho.gov/permits. The website is the central location for all commercial vehicle and motor carrier information. From permits and registrations to taxes and safety information Trucking.idaho.gov is the greatest resource for Idaho’s trucking industry.

Expect construction to US-95 bridge near Potlatch

The Washington Idaho Railroad on US-95 near Potlatch.

Tomorrow crews will work on the bridge on U.S. Highway 95 over the Washington Idaho Railroad near Potlatch. The deck will be ground down for a smoother traveling surface and be completed by the end of the day.

One lane in each direction will be open to traffic, but motorists will not be able to pass. Flaggers will be in place to help drivers turn off and on to State Highway 6. Drivers can expect delays that are under 15 minutes.

Live traffic impacts can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. You can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.

Nighttime detours start for System Interchange

aerial view of I-86/I-15 system interchange

Beginning Saturday evening drivers should expect various nighttime detours through next week at the System Interchange in Pocatello as crew demolish old bridges on southbound Interstate 15.

Two detours are scheduled for two nights each.

Eastbound travelers on Interstate 86 trying to head north on Interstate 15 will be detoured to the Pocatello Creek Interchange the following nights:

Saturday, Dec. 16, from 9 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 17, from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Northbound travelers on I-15 trying to head westbound on I-86 will be detoured to the Northgate Interchange the following nights:

Tuesday, Dec. 19, from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 20, from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

During these detours it is important that drivers follow posted speed limits. As work will continue through the winter drivers need to be particularly cautious around snowplows by giving them extra room in the work zone.

Ongoing construction at the System Interchange will improve safety and mobility while replacing bridges built in the 1960s. Work is expected to be complete in 2025. Those wishing to learn more about the project can visit the website at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-86i-15-system-interchange.

Statewide effort to stop impaired drivers from ruining the holidays

As the holiday season approaches with joyous celebrations, the unfortunate reality across Idaho is that these festivities are often abruptly cut short by the devastating impact of impaired driving.

From Dec. 13 through New Year’s Day, over 50 Idaho law enforcement agencies will collaboratively engage in a national effort to remove impaired drivers from our roadways. Officers will actively patrol to safeguard the holidays, preventing impaired drivers from ruining the holidays for their own safety and that of others.

Colonel Kedrick Wills, Director of the Idaho State Police (ISP), emphasized the collective commitment to public safety, stating, “Embodying an unwavering dedication to public safety, law enforcement agencies across the region stand united in the collective responsibility of preventing impaired driving and saving lives. Our collaborative enforcement efforts serve as a potent deterrent, leaving no room for doubt that impaired driving is unacceptable. Make the right choice for the well-being of others – never drive impaired.”

To coincide with the launch of the statewide impaired driving enforcement campaign, a one-day regional summit on impaired driving took place at the Boise Centre on Wednesday, Dec. 13. The summit featured distinguished speakers from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and law enforcement experts from agencies throughout the state and the nation.

“Data reveals a concerning 14.2% increase in alcohol-related crash fatalities nationwide from 2020 to 2021, underscoring the critical importance of responsible driving behaviors,” explained Greg Fredericksen, NHTSA’s Region 10 Administrator. “NHTSA joins Idaho’s state agencies and local partners to launch a vital initiative featuring impactful public service messages like ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,’ emphasizing the urgent need to address the alarming surge in impaired driving incidents.”

According to data from the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS), last year in Idaho there were 1,818 impaired driving crashes, and 110 people were killed.

“Driving under the influence is not an accident or a mistake. It is a choice and a crime,” said Dennis Maughan, MADD Regional Executive Director. “It not only puts the driver’s life at risk, but also endangers the lives of innocent pedestrians, passengers, and other drivers who share the road with them.”

OHS and law enforcement urge everyone celebrating this holiday season to include a plan for a sober ride home and to never drive impaired. Making a plan before drinking makes it easier to stick to once intoxicated.

Declo Ports of Entry now open

A red port of entry building seen from across the highway.

Update: Both Declo Ports of Entry (POE) are now open.

Original story Dec 13, 2023:

10-months after the Declo westbound Port of Entry (POE) opened, the eastbound side is nearing completion. Staff moved in at the end of November to set up the building and test the electronic screening equipment before full operations begin. The hope is to have the newest port completely open by December 21, 2023.

The eastbound Declo port will have a state-of-the-art commercial registration office with a customer service window for appointments.

The Declo POE also has a Tire Anomaly Classification System (known as TAC) which screens tire conditions at highway speeds. Catching damaged tires before they blow out helps keep highway users safe.

The current Cotterel Port of Entry, eastbound location, will be decommissioned and only the rest area will remain.

For more information about commercial vehicle services in Idaho visit Trucking.idaho.gov. The site is the central location for all commercial vehicle and motor carrier information. From permits and registrations to taxes and safety information Trucking.idaho.gov is the greatest resource for Idaho’s trucking industry.

US-93 widening begins north of Twin Falls

Work will begin today to widen one mile of U.S. Highway 93 north of Twin Falls. Drivers should expect minor delays while crews start moving utilities and working on the shoulders. Major work and impacts won’t start until early January.

Construction will expand US-93 to four lanes between 200 South Road and 400 South Road. Other changes include reconstructing the railroad crossing, widening highway shoulders and building left and right turn lanes at 300 South Road and other business developments.

Once utilities are relocated, canal reconstruction will start and take through early March and be followed by roadway work in the spring. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained throughout construction with minor detours of intersecting roads later in the project. New lanes are expected to be open to traffic in October.

This will be the fourth and final segment of the overall corridor, between Twin Falls and Jerome, to be widened, with previous widening projects completed every year since 2018.

See the US-93, 300 South Road project website for more information.