BOISE, ID — With winter weather settling in across Idaho, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and Idaho State Police (ISP) have launched a statewide Winter Driving Safety Campaign aimed at reducing crashes and preventing fatalities during the cold-weather months.

The campaign focuses on safe driving habits, increased enforcement, and public awareness as snow, ice, and freezing rain create challenging road conditions.

“Each winter we see too many crashes that could have been avoided,” ISP Major Shawn Staley said in the release. “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.”

ITD reports that despite years of education efforts, approximately 14% of Idahoans still don’t buckle up. State safety officials say unrestrained occupants make up a majority of Idaho’s crash fatalities.

“Holidays can be very tough for families who have lost someone,” said Josephine Middleton, Highway Safety Manager at the Office of Highway Safety. “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 also run emphasis patrols to target impaired driving. According to ITD, impaired driving crashes claimed 86 lives in Idaho in 2024.

Safety Tips for Winter Drivers

The Winter Driving Safety Campaign urges Idahoans to:

• Always wear a seat belt.
• Never drive impaired—plan ahead for a sober ride.
• Slow down and leave extra space between vehicles in winter conditions.
• Avoid distractions and stay alert for changing road conditions.
• Give snowplows plenty of room to operate.

Snowplow-related crashes remain a concern. ITD notes that most plow strikes occur when drivers attempt to pass too closely or follow too near the equipment. Front plows span 12 feet wide, and wing plows extend 10 feet to the right, creating large blind spots.

The department encourages motorists to prepare their vehicles with snow tires, emergency kits, and full fuel tanks. Drivers can check updated road conditions at 511.idaho.gov and weather forecasts at weather.gov before traveling.

ITD and ISP say the goal of the campaign is simple: ensuring every driver reaches their destination safely.