4/19/2011
Summit will focus on reducing highway traffic deaths, injuries and economic losses
BOISE - Safety on Idaho's rural roads will be a major topic of discussion for an estimated 220 state law enforcement officials and safety professionals on Thursday (April 21) when they gather for the Idaho 2011 Highway Safety Summit.
The summit is sponsored by the Idaho Transportation
Department's Office of Highway Operations and Safety, and will be held at the
Red Lion Hotel in Pocatello, 1555 Pocatello Creek Road. The program runs from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m.
Participants will include representatives from the Idaho State Police, county sheriff's offices, local police departments, regional and state transportation personnel, as well as other agencies and organizations involved in traffic safety.
The summit program will feature Nic Ward of the Western Transportation Institute of Montana State University, talking about "Rural Highway Safety Culture." Most of Idaho's highways are classified as rural.
Participants will explore other safety topics including engineering highway safety solutions, youth and alcohol, incident management, child passenger safety seat enforcement, the new high of spice and bath salts, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, the Alive at 25 youthful driving program, STAR motorcycle program and essentials of crash scene investigation.
Idaho's Traffic Resource Prosecutor, Jared Olson, will provide a legal review and case law update.
Beyond the Traffic Stop awards will be made to selected law enforcement officers during lunch and a Line of Duty Presentation will be made at the close of the summit.
"Idaho's Highway Safety Summit is sponsored each year by ITD and provides education to our law enforcement agencies and highway safety partners," said Mary Hunter, ITD highway safety manager. "The summit provides tools to our partners to help them maximize their effectiveness as we strive toward our goal of reducing preventable highway traffic deaths, injuries and economic losses."