SPOKANE, Wash. — With only two months remaining in 2023, a new study found more people have died on Idaho roads this year than in 2022.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) reported Thursday approximately 222 people have died in traffic-related accidents in 2023. That’s up from 215 traffic-related deaths in 2022, according to the Idaho Office of Highway Safety’s (OHS) preliminary 2023 report.
Of the traffic deaths reported so far, OHS said 152 involved motor vehicles, 37 involved motorcycles, four involved bicycles and four were on another type of vehicle, such as an ATV. 25 of the deaths were pedestrians.
OHS found most fatal crashes in Idaho were caused by a single vehicle leaving the roadway and crashing. Drivers in these types of crashes were usually speeding, not wearing a seatbelt or driving under the influence, according to the data.
Of the 222 reported deaths in 2023, OHS said 74 of the people killed were not wearing a seatbelt. ITD said seat belts increase the odds of surviving a crash by 50%.
“We often think about crashes as isolated incidents, but it adds up to a real crisis on our roads,” Highway Safety Manager Josephine Middleton said. “The safest thing we can do for ourselves and our communities is to drive engagement. That means seatbelt on, free from distractions and actively scanning the road ahead.”
OHS said some of the most common factors in fatal crashes include speeding, not staying in lanes, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, failing to yield and not paying attention while on the road.
“We see this deadly pattern of speed, impairment, and no seatbelt over and over again,” explained Lisa Losness, OHS Impaired Driving Program Specialist. “That’s why it’s so important to plan a sober ride home for yourself and call a ride for your friends if they try to drive after drinking.”
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