1. Home
  2. Highway Safety

Highway Safety

Highway Safety

Crash Records & Statistics

Crash Data and Statistical Information – Thousands of crashes happen each year on Idaho roads. Collection and analysis of crash reports is a crucial function of the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) to help make data-driven decisions that affect Idaho’s transportation system and the people who use it.

A Vehicle Crash Report (VCR) is filled out for every crash that involves a motor vehicle, occurs on public property and results in more than $1500 ($750 before January 1, 2006) property damage for any one person involved in the crash, or results in an injury to any person involved. Law enforcement officers who respond to crashes identify a number of factors that contributed to the crash. These factors encompass all three aspects of the crash: environment (including location and road conditions), vehicle, and person information.

Once a crash report is completed, the responding law enforcement agency transmits the information to OHS electronically where the report is reviewed by a crash analyst. The crash analyst then checks the report for accuracy before entering the information into Idaho’s crash database.

Idaho Crash Data Map

Click for Crash Data Map

Data Access – Accessing and understanding data is an important part of making safe choices. In an effort to help educate the public, the Office of Highway Safety makes its crash data publicly available, online and in print. Click to view the Crash Map.

Crash Report Data Educational video
Training Video for the Crash Data Dashboards
ITD Crash Data Dashboards

The ITD Crash Data Dashboards are an online resource showing crash trends and data. The dashboard contains a series of dynamic charts, graphs, and maps. The dashboard allows users to apply their own filters to crash data for custom searches.

The OHS publishes the Traffic Crash Report for Idaho. This report tabulates, analyzes and summarizes the various aspects of traffic collisions. The report is divided into sections to better facilitate searches for specific information.

Crash Report Requests

Crash records are considered public information, and as such, are available to the general public. In accordance with Idaho Code, the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) charges for each copy of a crash report, if applicable.

  • Requests for crash reports may be made Online through Access Idaho. The charge is $9.00.
  • Statistical information not contained in the annual Idaho Traffic Crash Reports can also be obtained through the OHS, other charges may apply.
  • Local and State agencies are able to analyze the crash data using WebCARS, a web-based analysis system developed by the OHS. For more information on Idaho’s crash reporting system eIMPACT or WebCARS, please email: eIMPACTsupport@itd.idaho.gov

Child Safety Seat

Child Safety Information

Carma McKinnon is the statewide Child Passenger Safety Centralized Leadership coordinator. Carma works for the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office in Salmon. If you need assistance regarding child passenger safety, don’t hesitate to contact Carma at (208) 742-1683 or carma@lemhicountyidaho.org.

Rear Facing Seat

  • To 2 years of age, or until the highest weight and height limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.

Forward Facing Seat

  • To upper height and weight limits of car seat, approximately 4 years and 40-65 pounds.
  • The top tether should be used until child weighs 40 pounds.

Booster Seat

  • From approximately 4 to at least 8 years old or 4’9”
  • Use a high back or backless belt positioning booster
  • Lap-belt only seating positions should not be used with booster seat

Adult Seat Belt

  • Age 8 or older and at least 4’9”
  • Lap belt lays across upper thighs and shoulder belt across chest; knees bend at seat edge

Car Seat Recommendations: Choosing the Right Seat

Child Restraint Basics – Pocket Card
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) created a pocket card which provides child restraint basic recommendations to parents and caregivers. The card features restraint types and positions based on a child’s height, weight and age. The card is free.

If you would like a card mailed to you, please contact:

Tabitha Smith, Occupant Protection Program
ITD Office of Highway Safety
Phone: 208-334-8104
Tabitha.Smith@itd.idaho.gov

For more information on distribution points or to get a WHALE Kit, please contact:

Tabitha Smith, Occupant Protection Program
ITD Office of Highway Safety
Phone: 208-334-8104
Tabitha.Smith@itd.idaho.gov

Child Seat

Four Key Child Safety Steps

  • Restrain children on every trip, every time.
  • Keep children in the back seat until age 13.
  • Use the correct safety seat for child’s size.
  • Use child safety seats and seat belts correctly.

Child Safety Seat Ratings
The purpose of NHTSA’s ease of use rating program is to educate parents and caregivers about child safety seat features and which are easy to use.

HS_4Things-infographic-B-rev

Car Seat Registration
One of the most important goals for child passenger safety is to make sure that car seats and boosters meet all Federal Safety Standards. If it is determined that a car seat or booster doesn’t comply with the required safety standards, a recall may occur so that the manufacturer can fix the problem. Registering your seat makes sense because it gives the manufacturer the ability to contact you about recalls and safety notices.

Used Child Safety Seats
Don’t buy or sell used car seats. Although it is nice to share and reuse baby items, car seats are one product that shouldn’t be reused. The components used in the typical car seat deteriorate and weaken over time. Car seats have an expiration date stamped on the back of the seat; the expiration date is typically six years from the seat’s manufacture date. Click here for details on retiring a car seat.

The above information provided courtesy of consumer reports – Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union. Both Consumer Reports and Consumers Union are not-for-profit organizations that accept no advertising. Neither has any commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site.

Child Seat

Once you are on the website link below, begin by clicking on the “Enter Location” search box. Start your search by entering the state, zip code or enter a city & state (example, Rexburg Idaho). If you enter a city & state or zip code, the website will provide car seat check sites within 25 miles. If no sites are available, contact Carma McKinnon at carma@lemhicountyidaho.org or 208-742-1683.

It is important to read and clearly understand all safety and booster seat installation and use instructions. Having your child safety seat initially checked and re-checked often by a trained professional increases your child’s chances of escaping injury in the event of a car crash.

Become a Technician

Child Passenger Safety Technicians train properly fit child safety seats. Out of the thousands of child safety seats installed in vehicles over 80% of them are incorrectly installed according to National surveys conducted by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The NHTSA Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training course is designed to certify child safety advocates as Child Passenger Safety Technicians. The course provides attendee’s with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide parents with accurate and consistent information regarding child car safety seats.

The Idaho Office of Traffic and Highway Safety recommends that anyone providing parent technical information regarding their child’s car seat should attend this valuable training course. The Idaho CPS program provides free Child Passenger Safety Inspection Stations through our hospitals, fire departments, police departments, and District Public Health Department offices. At these locations parents and caregivers can learn how to safely transport children by using the properly fitted child safety seats. Click here for a list of current child safety seat check sites in Idaho, then enter Idaho and the zip code.

If you wish to take this course, you must register online at the National SAFE KIDS. This site describes policies and administrative requirements for course registration and certification for the National Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program. For those contemplating taking the course, please keep in mind that this is not an easy course and is physically exerting. It is a full 3 or 4 day course with a child safety seat check, hands on skills and Checks for Understanding that must be passed. It also requires the physical ability to climb in and out of cars, placing pressure on car seats to install them properly. It is not recommended for persons with back problems to take this course. To register you will need to be prepared to use a credit card to charge your registration fee of $95.00. This registration fee includes your manual and your 2-year NHTSA National Child Passenger Safety Certification. To remain current CPS technicians must recertify every 2 years.

If you have questions after you have read this page, or for details regarding course availability in Idaho, contact Carma McKinnon at (208) 742-1683 or carma@lemhicountyidaho.org.

Please use the Educational Materials Order Form to request Highway Safety printed materials and resources.


Emergency service personnel across Idaho have a tool available to help identify small children involved in motor vehicle crashes. The WHALE program “We Have A Little Emergency” gives instant identification of a child in a car safety seat in the event that an adult in the car is injured and unable to talk.

The WHALE identification card provides emergency personnel information to identify young children involved in a crash. Sometimes just knowing a child’s name can help rescue workers comfort young patients. Rescue workers can refer to an identification card attached to the safety seat and find the child’s name, medical information and who to contact in case of emergency. Stickers affixed to car windows and the safety seat also alert emergency workers that the child’s information is close at hand.

The WHALE Kit includes:

  • An Identification Card — containing a space for a photograph of the child, and important information about the child in the safety seat, such as the child’s name, date of birth, pertinent medical information, and whom to contact in an emergency.
  • Two WHALE (seat) Stickers — the WHALE logo, to be attached to each side of the child safety seat.
  • Two WHALE (window) Stickers — featuring the WHALE logo, to be attached to the lower rear corner of the vehicle’s windows.

For more information on distribution points or to get a WHALE Kit in English or Spanish, please contact:

Lisa Losness, Child Passenger Safety Program
ITD Office of Highway Safety
Phone: 208-334-8103
Lisa.Losness@itd.idaho.gov

Lisa Losness, Child Passenger Safety Program
ITD Office of Highway Safety
Phone: 208-334-8103
Lisa.Losness@itd.idaho.gov

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving is a high-risk behavior. High-risk drivers climb into the anonymity of an automobile and take out their frustrations on anybody at any time. For them, frustration levels are high, and level of concern for fellow motorists is low. Most people believe that the worst thing that can happen if they speed or fail to obey traffic signals is that they will get a ticket, so it’s an acceptable risk. Drivers like this are wrong. Maybe even dead wrong, because aggressive driving can kill.

For more information on aggressive driving, visit shift-idaho.org/aggressive-driving

You are an aggressive driver if you:

  • Ignore traffic signals
  • Speed and tailgate
  • Drive too fast for conditions
  • Weave in and out of traffic
  • Make improper lane changes frequently and abruptly
  • Pass on the shoulder
  • Make hand and facial gestures
  • Scream, honk and flash lights

If confronted by an aggressive driver, you should:

  • Get out of their way as soon as you can safely
  • Stay calm – reaching your destination safely is your goal
  • Do not challenge them
  • Avoid eye contact
  • Ignore gestures and don’t return them
  • Report aggressive driving (vehicle description, license number, location)
  • Always buckle up in case abrupt movements cause you to lose control of your vehicle
  • If it leads to deliberate acts of violence this is Road Rage, which is a criminal act

Report Aggressive Drivers:

Road Rage:

Road rage is a serious offense, and occurrences are becoming more common. Road rage is defined as a deliberate, violent act against another driver and is a criminal offense.

Please use the Educational Materials Order Form to request Highway Safety printed materials and resources.

For more information about Aggressive Driving education and safety awareness efforts in Idaho please contact:

Josephine Middleton | Email: Josephine.Middleton@itd.idaho.gov

Distracted Driving

HS_no_phone

Distraction is defined by NHTSA as a specific type of inattention that occurs when drivers divert their attention away from the task of driving to focus on another activity instead. These distractions can be electronic distractions, such as navigation systems and cell phones, or more conventional distractions, such as interacting with passengers and eating. These distracting tasks can affect drivers in different ways and are categorized into the following three types:

  • Visual – taking your eyes off the road;
  • Manual – taking your hands off the wheel; and
  • Cognitive – taking your mind off the road.

For more information visit shift-idaho.org

Research conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) in 2006 reported that, “Nearly 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event. The primary cause of driver inattention in this major study included such distracting activities as cell phone use and factors that significantly increase risk such as reaching for a moving object (a 9 times greater risk) and drowsiness (4 times greater).” Distracted driving caused by the use of a cell phone or any other electronic device to make a phone call, text a message, read email messages, manipulate music files or search for direction information is an ever growing concern.

Distracted Driving is a focus area in the Idaho Transportation Department’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

Below are links to sample distracted driving programs for your employees.

HS_Distracted_300x600_2016Idaho Resources

National Resources

Please use the Educational Materials Order Form to request Highway Safety printed materials and resources.

In an effort to provide materials for outreach and education, and to help raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, the Distracted Driving Task Force generated a toolkit of information for public use and mass distribution.

To get involved, please use the following toolkit information to help promote attentive driving for life:

Crash Information and Statistics

TEMPLATES

Employer Policies

Newsletters

Presentations

Press Releases

Seat Belts

Buckle Up, Idaho Campaign | Rules to LVE By

Buckle Up, Idaho Campaign: Rules to LVE By 30 second video
Buckle Up, Idaho: Rules to LVE By

Buckle Up, Idaho: Rules to LVE By 30 second video
Buckle Up: Idaho Rules to LVE By

Buckle Up, Idaho: Rules to LVE By 15 second video
Buckle Up, Idaho: Friendships

 

Seat Belt Surveys

The Office of Highway Safety conducts observational seat belt surveys every year. The surveys are conducted at 100 sites throughout the state. The surveys are used to estimate seat belt usage throughout the state. Blank pages have been removed from the documents.

 

SHIFT | Drive Well Idaho

Learn more about Idaho’s effort to SHIFT behaviors and emphasize engaged driving @ shift-idaho.org

Join the Conversation

VIDEO: Driving in the Moment

shift-idaho.org

HS_ClickIt_Logo_Long

Idaho’s Seat Belt Law: Idaho Code 49-673

Idaho law requires everyone in a vehicle to wear safety restraints. Other provisions under the law include:

  • Adult violators, 18 and older, are subject to a $10 citation.
  • An adult driver is ticketed for passengers younger than 18 who are not properly restrained.
  • If the driver is younger than 18 and the driver or any occupant younger than 18 fails to wear a seat belt, court costs are added to the fine. Current infraction penalties and fees may be reviewed on the Idaho Supreme Court’s website, specific link: Infraction Penalty Schedule
  • A law enforcement officer can issue a citation solely for a safety restraint violation, but there must be another violation leading to the traffic stop.


Youth Education

The Office of Highway Safety produces educational materials which are available at no cost to qualified organizations for distribution to the general public. Typically, the materials are made available to law enforcement agencies, government and non-profit organizations.

Please use the Educational Materials Order Form to request Highway Safety printed materials and resources.

Teen Driving

Serious and, often times, fatal crashes are the result of distracted driving. Anytime you take your eyes off the road, your hands off the steering wheel, and/or take your mind off driving, you become a distracted driver.

Resist the urge to text, talk on a cell phone, eat or drink while driving.

Resource

What are Local Teens Doing?
Youth all over the state are doing wonderful things to get the word out about distracted driving. Did your school create a message to teens about the dangers of texting and driving or distracted driving. If so, tell us about it. We’d love to share it with other teens around the state. Send us a link to your YouTube video, the PSA, or a .jpg of the artwork to: ohsweb@itd.idaho.gov

Grant Programs & Funding

Workshops for Highway Safety Grant Applications

The ITD Office of Highway Safety (OHS) provides grant funding for efforts addressing specific behavior-related traffic safety priority areas. These include: Impaired Driving, Aggressive Driving, Distracted Driving, Occupant Protection, Bicycle, Pedestrian, Motorcycle Safety, Youthful Drivers, and Traffic Records. Grants may be awarded for assisting OHS in targeting traffic safety deficiencies, expansion of an ongoing activity, or development of a new program or intervention.

If you would like more information on the grant application process and how to fill out and submit your grant, join us for one of two training workshops offered.

When:

  • Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 – 9:00-10:00 am, or
  • Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 – 2:00-3:00 pm

Where: Virtual/Teams Meeting

How do I sign up? Email: OHSTraining@itd.idaho.gov

  • State which class date/time you plan to attend.
  • OHS Training will send a confirmation with a TEAMS code to join the training.

For Federal Fiscal Year 2024, the year-long grant applications submittal process has opened.

 
Federal Fiscal Year 2024 Grant Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2023

Application forms and instructions for year-long grants

Application submittal by email or mail

Application Timeline for 2024 Grants

  • January 3, 2023 – Request for Applications Released
  • February 28, 2023 – Grant Application due to OHS by 5:00 pm
  • March 2023 – OHS Staff review applications and submit them for scoring
  • May 2023 – OHS presents the Highway Safety Plan (HSP), including potential grant awards, to the Idaho Traffic Safety Commission for approval
  • June 2023 – ITD Board reviews and approves the HSP
  • July 2023 – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reviews and approves the HSP
  • August 2023 – New FFY 2024 grants will be awarded and subgrantees notified
  • October 2023 – Start of the new FFY

In order to receive the Federal highway safety funding, each State must submit a High Safety Plan, which includes a description of the processes used by the State to identify its highway safety problems, define its highway safety performance measures, set goals for those performance measures, and develop projects and activities to address its problems and achieve its goals. The Plan, approved by the Governor’s Representative for Highway Safety, must also include descriptions of the projects and activities the State plans to implement and link the countermeasure strategies and projects to the goals identified in the Plan.

Each State is also required to submit an Annual Report within 90 days of the end of the Federal Fiscal Year which evaluates the State’s progress in meeting its highway safety goals, using performance measures identified in the Highway Safety Plan and describes how the projects and activities funded during the fiscal year contributed to meeting the State’s highway safety goals.

The Office of Highway Safety offers law enforcement agencies throughout the state the opportunity to participate in Traffic Enforcement Mobilizations (saturation patrols), which support enforcement efforts by agencies to reduce deaths, serious injuries and economic loss as part of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). Dedicated enhanced enforcement efforts and/or traffic enforcement equipment are funded for hours worked during the mobilizations. Participation in the mobilization is initiated by a Traffic Enforcement Grant Project Mobilization Agreement (TEGPA) between the agency and the Idaho Transportation Department, Office of Highway Safety.

Traffic Enforcement Grant Project Mobilization agreements are received by email. To receive a current copy, contact Denise Dinnauer at Denise.Dinnauer@itd.idaho.gov.

The mobilization claims and reporting are managed online through WebCars. Each law enforcement agency that intends to participate in and apply for the Traffic Enforcement Mobilization Program must first receive an individual login and password for WebCars. To request your login and password, email Steve Rich at Steve.Rich@itd.idaho.gov.

A “traffic safety problem” is an identifiable subgroup of drivers, pedestrians, vehicles, or roadways that is statistically higher in collision experience than normal expectations. Problem identification involves the study of relationships between collisions and the population, licensed drivers, registered vehicles, and vehicle miles traveled, as well as characteristics of specific subgroups that may contribute to collisions.

The process used to identify traffic safety problems began initially by evaluating Idaho’s experience in each of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) eight highway safety priority areas. These were program areas determined by NHTSA to be most effective in reducing motor vehicle collisions, injuries and deaths. Consideration for other potential traffic safety problem areas came from analyzing Idaho collision data, suggestions from Idaho Traffic Safety Commission (ITSC) members, suggestions by Office of Highway Safety staff, and by researching issues identified by other states. All traffic safety problems must be validated with supporting data and there must be an effective countermeasure to address the problem that is eligible for Federal highway safety funds.

The traffic safety problem areas that have been identified and are currently being addressed are: Aggressive Driving, Occupant Protection, Impaired Driving, Distracted Driving, Youthful Drivers, Pedestrian Safety, Bicycle Safety, Motorcycle Safety, Traffic Records, and Emergency Medical Services.

Forms and Resources

• Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)


An ignition interlock is an instrument designed to measure the BAC (breath alcohol concentration) of an individual, equipped with a camera and prevents a motorized vehicle from starting when the BAC is greater than or equal to .025.

The ignition interlock manufacturers on the Ignition Interlock Providers List have to be certified by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) to meet the standards set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for model specification for breath alcohol ignition interlock devices (BAIIDS).

If you are required to have an ignition interlock installed it is your responsibility to contact the companies listed to determine the nearest service center, cost, availability and appointment requirements.

The ITD does not install ignition interlocks, cannot recommend a company or provide the nearest installation center.

For question regarding ignition interlocks call the ITD Driver Services at 208-334-8000.

Contacts

Buckled Up

Office of Highway Safety (OHS)

Our Responsibilities: The primary responsibilities of the Office of Highway Safety are housing and maintaining the Statewide Collision Database, analyzing and disseminating collision statistics, and administering the federal section 402 highway safety funds.

Where we are located: The Office of Highway Safety is located in Boise, Idaho at the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) headquarters complex. The Office of Highway Safety is located in the East Annex building.

The physical address is: 3311 W. State Street, Boise, ID 83703

The mailing address is: Idaho Transportation Department-Office of Highway Safety | PO Box 7129 Boise, ID 83707-1129

Phone: (208) 334-8100 | Fax: (208) 334-4430

How we fit in: The Office of Highway Safety is under the Division of Engineering Products and Plans (DEPP) of the Idaho Transportation Department and works closely with other Department sections and districts to promote safe driving behaviors and improve the safety of roadways on the state highway system.

The Director of the Idaho Transportation Department serves as the Governors highway safety representative. The Office of Highway Safety is managed by the Highway Safety Manager. The Office of Highway Safety consists of two teams: the records team and the programs team. The records team is responsible for maintaining, updating, and ensuring the quality of the statewide motor vehicle crash database. The program team is responsible for administering Idaho’s Federal highway safety funds and analyzing and disseminating the crash data. All funding is subject to approval by the Idaho Traffic Safety Commission and the Idaho Transportation Board.

You can reach the Highway Safety section at (208) 334-8100 or FAX (208) 334-4430, or directly contact the staff below.

Programs Team:

  • Lisa Losness, Grants Contracts Officer for Impaired Driving, Vulnerable Users (Youth), Highway Safety Planning & Child Passenger
  • Bill Kotowski, Grants Contracts Officer for Community Traffic Safety (Law Enforcement Liaisons, Coalition, Summit) & Public Outreach
  • Tabitha Smith, Grants Contracts Officer for Youthful Drivers, Distracted Driving, Alive at 25 & Occupant Protection
  • Denise Dinnauer, Grants Contracts Officer for Year-long Grants, Police Traffic Services, Compliance & Training
  • Jillian Garrigues, Grants Contracts Officer for Motorcycles, Vulnerable Users (Bicycle & Pedestrian)

Records Team & Data Analysis:

Mission Statement: We support the Department’s mission of ”Your Safety. Your Mobility. Your Economic Opportunity” by conducting programs to eliminate traffic deaths, serious injuries, and economic losses through funding programs and activities that promote safe travel on Idaho’s transportation systems, and collecting and maintaining crash data and utilizing reliable crash statistics.

Vision Statement: To be the best in the country in promoting safety on Idaho’s roads in an efficient and effective manner.

Operating Philosophy: The Office of Highway Safety has a deep concern for the welfare of the traveling public, and believe our main purpose is to save lives through creative, highly visible, innovative, and effective highway safety programs for all modes of transportation. We are committed to our critical role within the State of Idaho, and the rest of the nation, to ensure safe travel on Idaho’s roadways. As stewards, we have a responsibility to make a positive impact on peoples’ lives.

The continuation and expansion of state and local partnerships is essential to our success. The primary mission is to identify existing and emerging traffic safety trends through statistically-based problem identification efforts, to efficiently provide decision makers accurate data for use in determining where the most effective highway safety investment is made. This includes the task to develop and implement highway safety programs that save lives and prevent injuries, and to provide appropriate safety funds that empower communities to address critical local traffic safety issues.

As highway safety professionals, we are committed to teamwork, integrity and maintaining a positive working environment. In our highway safety partnerships, we respond, cooperate, and provide accurate and timely service. We are a leader in a coordinated statewide effort to eliminate death and serious injury on all of Idaho’s roadways.

Please send comments, questions and suggestions to: ohsweb@itd.idaho.gov

Or write to Idaho Transportation Department – Office of Highway Safety P.O. Box 7129 Boise, Idaho 83707-1129