12/16/2016

District 3
ITD will address frequent avalanche closures, openings on Idaho 21 differently this winter season
A news release Dec. 14 marked the first of many anticipated closures and openings on Idaho 21 between Lowman and Stanley this winter season. That news release, though, was the beginning of a new strategy in terms of media notification of those frequent events. Rather than a release to mark each closure and opening in that avalanche-prone area, ITD instead used the occasion of the first closure to put the media on notice that they will need to check in with the Idaho traveler advisory system, 511, for those details in the future.
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District 5
Immediate dividends: Within first 48 hours, ITD’s new cable rail improves I-15 safety
A newly installed cable rail on a section of heavily traveled Interstate 15 in southeast Idaho just south of Inkom is already paying dividends, just days after it was installed to improve safety.
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Office of Highway Safety
Traffic Safety: Study reveals most dangerous driving causes in the U.S.
The Auto Insurance Center has completed a study of the deadliest driving conditions by state throughout the U.S. from 2005 to 2015. The insurance news and information website used the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fatal accident reporting system to reveal the cause of deadly crashes. Common causes were found to be distracted driving, road rage, drunk driving, aggressive driving and adverse weather. Idaho was not ranked in the top 10 (or bottom 10) in any category.
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District 5
District 5 mentoring program pays dividends for ITD workforce
For the past several years, ITD's southeastern Idaho office in Pocatello has participated in a mentoring program with engineering students at Idaho State University. The program is already paying dividends for ITD, particularly as fully half of the agency's existing workforce is eligible to retire in the very near future.
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International traffic safety
Japan to use English traffic signs amid rise in tourist accidents
TOKYO - Japan plans to introduce English traffic signs next year in response to an increasing number of accidents involving foreign drivers amid the ongoing tourism boom.
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