At least 277* people were killed in traffic crashes in Idaho last year, making it the deadliest year on Idaho roads in 20 years. You have to look all the way back to 2003, when 293 were killed, to find a deadlier year.
Preliminary data from the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) shows a significant rise in fatalities across all crash categories in 2023. One-hundred ninety-five* people in vehicles were killed, of those fatalities, 105* were not wearing a seat belt. Forty people riding motorcycles, 31* people on foot, and 7* people on bicycles were killed in 2023. Four* deaths involved people riding ATVs, UTVs, or other off-road vehicles on public roads.
“Idahoans want to do right by their communities by driving safe, so this increase in fatalities should be alarming to all of us. The loss of Each person last year is a tragedy with broad impact,” said Idaho Transportation Department Director Scott Stokes. “So, in Idaho let us recommit ourselves to the principles of engaged driving to help save lives in the future. That means putting the distractions away, buckling up, and driving cautiously and respectfully.”
Grant funding is available through OHS for programs that aim to change unsafe behaviors like distracted and impaired driving to help reduce death and serious injury on Idaho roads. The application period for FY2025 grants closes on January 31, 2024. To apply, complete the grant application. OHS also offers mini-grants throughout the year for traffic safety community education and outreach, contact them at 208-334-8112 or email OHSGrants@itd.idaho.gov. Resources for community outreach efforts can be found at Shift-Idaho.org.
Top 10 contributing circumstances to traffic fatalities in 2023 (in no particular order):
- Fail to maintain lane
- Speeding
- Alcohol/Drug impairment
- Fail to yield
- Inattention
- Drove left of centerline
- Fail to obey a stop sign or signal
- Overcorrecting
- Distracted
- Improper overtaking
Traffic fatalities by transportation district and county in 2023:
District 1
- Boundary – 1
- Bonner – 5
- Kootenai – 21
- Benewah – 4
- Shoshone – 1
District 2
- Latah – 2
- Nez Perce – 9
- Idaho – 9
- Clearwater – 4
- Lewis – 0
District 3
- Ada – 31
- Canyon – 32
- Boise – 8
- Elmore – 11
- Owyhee – 2
- Payette – 8
- Gem – 5
- Washington – 2
- Valley – 3
- Adams – 1
District 4
- Jerome – 18
- Twin Falls – 13
- Cassia -8
- Minidoka – 4
- Blaine -4
- Gooding – 3
- Lincoln -2
- Camas – 0
District 5
- Bingham – 9
- Bannock – 8
- Bear Lake – 3
- Franklin – 1
- Oneida – 0
- Power -1
- Caribou -2
District 6
- Bonneville – 17
- Butte – 2
- Fremont – 4
- Jefferson – 8
- Lemhi – 3
- Madison – 2
- Teton – 5
- Custer- 1
- Clark – 0
| Year | 2023 | 2022 |
| Total Fatalities | 277* | 215 |
| Motorcyclists | 40* | 29 |
| Pedestrians | 31* | 16 |
| Bicyclists | 7* | 4 |
*All 2023 data is preliminary and subject to change