BOISE — It’s middle of the "100 Deadliest Days" of driving and the Idaho State Police think this summer may be the deadliest.
So far, 65 people have died in car accidents since Memorial Day. Compare that to last year where a total of 90 people died over the course of the 100 deadliest days, which ends on Labor Day.
ISP says they're seeing more accidents, specifically more accidents near construction zones. One you probably remember is the fiery seven-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 near the Cloverdale overpass in June. Four people died in that wreck after the chain-reaction crash happened in a construction zone.
ISP says accidents happen in construction zones a lot for a few reasons. One is that people don't obey the posted speed. They say many people are going too fast. Others happen because drivers wait too long to merge which leads to backups. Then when you tie that in with distracted driving, those drivers might not realize everyone else has stopped or slowed down, which can end up in accidents.
“It's frustrating and it's sad that it all could have been avoided,” said Capt. Scott Hanson. “If somebody would have just been paying a little closer attention not answered the phone, not taken the text…Something as simple as planning ahead, thinking ahead. It's very avoidable."
To prevent these accidents, ISP says to put away distractions like phones and pay attention. That also means being aware of your surroundings, obeying the speed limit and knowing when it changes, and paying attention to other drivers and noticing when they slow down or start to break.
They also recommend being aware of semis. While those trucks should be driving slower, drivers need to be aware of where semis are and avoid their blind spots. They say to keep in mind that semis can’t stop as quickly and easily as a car or SUV.