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.