5/22/2014
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Traffic safety enforcement increases as the 100 deadliest days on Idaho roads begin
BOISE - The 100 days between the Memorial and Labor Day holidays is the deadliest time for crashes on Idaho roads, according to statistics collected by the Idaho Transportation Department. The increase in crashes comes despite the fact that driving and road conditions are often at their best.
Those are the most dangerous days because along with those better road conditions and warmer summer temperatures, there also are more people out on the roads recreating, school is out so more young drivers are using the roads, and more bicyclists and motorcycles are on the highways.
Josephine O’Connor from the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) said, “The 100 days between Memorial and Labor Day represents 28 percent of the days in the year, yet in 2012, those days accounted for 40 percent of fatal crashes.”
During the 100 deadliest days, Treasure Valley residents can expect to see traffic teams made up of multiple law enforcement agencies working together to target unsafe driving.
“There’s strength in numbers and we can make a bigger impact on reducing crashes by working together. We want to make sure residents and visitors alike get where they’re going safely, whether it’s to work or a ball game, to visit family, or headed out on a summer vacation,” said Sgt. Kyle Christensen of the Boise Police Department.
Ada, Boise and Canyon counties contain one-third of Idaho’s population, but account for 39 percent of motorcycle crashes, 38 percent of aggressive crashes, 32 percent of impaired crashes, and half of all bicycle and pedestrian crashes.
“We’ll be looking for anyone driving impaired, driving distracted or driving aggressively. Anyone driving in a manner that puts themselves or others at risk, risks getting stopped by an officer,” said Sgt. Christensen.
“Following too closely is an aggressive driving behavior that causes a lot of crashes in more congested urban areas like Nampa,” said Sgt. Matt Pavelek of the Nampa Police Department.
“Task Force members will be equipped with laser equipment that very accurately measures following distance, for example. We recommend the three second rule for drivers to keep a reasonable and safe following distance. For those that chose to drive in an unsafe manner like tailgating, they risk a ticket,” said Sgt. Pavelek.
OHS will fund extra law enforcement patrols from the Memorial Day to Labor Day holidays. Officers from Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell police departments, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and Idaho State Police will provide extra law enforcement patrols this summer.