Untitled Document

New law requires motorists to move damaged cars

Idaho’s new “Quick Clearance” law, promoted to the state legislature by the Idaho Transportation Department and Idaho State Police, became effective today (July 1). The law is intended to improve safety and traffic flow on Idaho’s interstates and major divided highways.

The law requires motorists involved in a collision that does not cause a death or injury to drive their vehicles to a shoulder, median or emergency lane if they can safely do so. The law only applies to interstates and major divided highways.

Some collisions occur as the result of another crash. In some cases, emergency responders are victims in these secondary crashes.

“We want to keep our highways as safe as possible – for motorists and emergency responders both,” said ITD Assistant District 3 Engineer Elaine Davis. “This law helps do that.”

“The safer we can make a crash scene for emergency responders, the better,” said Idaho State Police Captain Steve Richardson. “But motorists involved in a crash must see to their own safety as well. They should not move their vehicle if someone has been injured, and they should not put anyone at risk to move their vehicle off the roadway.”

For every minute a roadway lane is closed, it takes several minutes for traffic to recover. Closed travel lanes cause significant congestion and cost Idaho businesses and employees in missed work time, additional business expenses and increased fuel consumption.

The transportation department joined with Idaho State Police to conduct interviews with several Treasure Valley television reporters on Thursday (June 30).

Transportation department crews will begin installing new signs alerting motorists to the law.