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Idaho tow truck companies encourage sober driving with rolling displays

The consequences of an impaired driving crash will be on display during March in Twin Falls, Coeur d’Alene and Boise when tow truck operators in these cities will transport crashed cars around their areas to help raise awareness about making safe choices when celebrations and activities involve drinking.

The tow truck operators’ flatbed trucks will travel around Twin Falls on Friday and Saturday, March 11-12, in Coeur d’Alene, March 18-19, and in Boise, March 24-26, displaying a crashed vehicle with signs on each side of the bed encouraging and reminding local motorists to always drive sober, explained Mary Burke, with Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety.

“This campaign will help people to visualize the dangers of impaired drinking or any unsafe driving behavior,“ she said.

Tow truck operators participating in the volunteer effort are Highway 30 Towing in Twin Falls, Schaffer’s Towing in Coeur d’Alene and ACT Towing in Boise.

Statewide, a St. Patrick’s Day high-visibility education and enforcement campaign targeting impaired driving will be underway March 12-20.

ITD’s Office of Highway Safety works to reduce deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes by discouraging dangerous driving behaviors through education activities and supporting law enforcement campaigns.

Burke encourages people to always have a plan if activities involve drinking:

Whenever alcohol will be consumed, designate a sober driver before going out and give that person the car keys.
If impaired, call a taxi, sober friend or family member to get home safely.
Use available sober rides programs.
Promptly report drunk drivers seen on roadways to law enforcement.
Wear a seat belt if in a car or a helmet if on a motorcycle. It is the only defense in a crash caused by an impaired driver.

“Driving any vehicle – including a motorcycle – when ‘buzzed’ or drunk is wrong and not worth the risk,” she said. “Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving are significant.”

Violators face jail time, loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, unpaid time away from work and many other expenses.