EDITORIAL: The 100 Deadliest Days are here
Summer has arrived, which means we are now entering the most dangerous period on America's roads. The stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day — aptly named the 100 Deadliest Days — claims more lives in traffic accidents than any other time of year. As families prepare for vacations, beach trips and summer adventures, we must also prepare to drive with care and responsibility.
Gov. Brad Little's proclamation of Safe Driver Week comes at a great time. The statistics from Idaho's roads tell a story that mirrors what's happening nationwide. Between 2020 and 2024, impaired driving was a factor in 41% of all fatal crashes in our state. Aggressive driving contributed to nearly half of all serious injury crashes, which means many of these accidents could have been prevented.
The five deadly behaviors highlighted during Safe Driver Week — distracted driving, impaired driving, drowsy driving, aggressive driving and failure to wear seat belts — are not inevitable. They are choices. Every time we pick up our phones while driving, every time we get behind the wheel after drinking, every time we speed or tailgate in frustration, we are making a choice that could end a life.
In Idaho, 49 people died last year in crashes involving distracted drivers. That's 49 individuals who might still be with us today if someone had simply waited to send that text message or check that notification.
The impaired driving statistics are even more alarming. With 502 deaths over five years attributed to impaired driving, we're talking about more than 100 lives lost annually to completely preventable crashes.
Perhaps most insidious is drowsy driving, which affects younger drivers disproportionately. Over 800 crashes involving drivers 20 and younger between 2020 and 2024.
Aggressive driving, meanwhile, reflects a broader cultural problem with patience and civility. When nearly half of serious injury crashes involve some form of aggressive behavior, we're looking at a crisis of temperament on our roads. The few seconds saved by speeding, weaving through traffic or tailgating are meaningless when weighed against the potential for catastrophic consequences.
The solution to seat belt non-compliance is perhaps the simplest of all, and yet 88 Idahoans died last year while not wearing this basic piece of equipment. When seat belts improve survival chances by 50%, choosing not to wear one is essentially choosing to gamble with your life.
As we enter these 100 Deadliest Days, each of us must commit to being part of the solution. This means following traffic laws, and actively choosing safety over convenience, patience over aggression and responsibility over recklessness.
The AAA Idaho campaign reminds us that "individual driving decisions can make all the difference." This summer, let's make sure that difference is a positive one. Let's ensure that our summer adventures create memories of joy, not tragedy. Let's commit to getting everyone safely from Point A to Point B, every single time.
The 100 Deadliest Days don't have to live up to their name, but only if we all choose to drive as if lives depend on it.