Free winter driving classes return to North Idaho

COEUR d’ALENE — The first snowstorm of the season may still be a ways off, but frosty mornings and icy roads can arrive much sooner. The Idaho Transportation Department and Idaho State Police are helping North Idaho drivers prepare now, before winter weather catches anyone by surprise.

Registration is open for free winter driving classes in North Idaho, with the first class scheduled Saturday, Oct. 10. 

Classes will be offered nearly every week from early October through December, giving interested drivers plenty of opportunities to attend. Most sessions are held Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, with an additional Wednesday evening class from 6 to 8 p.m. in early November. 

Ten classes are currently scheduled, with additional dates and locations being added. Seating is limited, and classes can fill quickly, so participants are encouraged to register online in advance for the date that works best for them. 

Classes are open to everyone but are especially geared toward young drivers.

This is classroom-based learning only and does not include behind-the-wheel instruction. A driver’s license is not required to participate. Teens as young as 14 are encouraged to attend if they plan to complete driver’s education within the next year.

“We don’t want anyone’s first winter driving lesson to happen in the middle of a snowstorm,” ISP Trooper Eric O’Brien said. “Whether you’re a teenager heading into your first winter behind the wheel or you recently moved to Idaho from someplace a little warmer, the goal is to help you think through these situations before you encounter them on the road.”

The classes bring ITD and ISP together to cover both sides of winter travel: how to prepare and drive safely in challenging conditions, and what drivers need to know about the crews working to keep highways safe.

Topics include preparing your vehicle for winter, controlling your vehicle on snow and ice, what to do if you are involved in a crash or slide off, understanding changing roadway conditions, safely sharing the road with snowplows and using Idaho’s 511 system to check conditions before traveling.

Classes are free, but seating is limited and registration is required online at Winter Driving, Idaho Transportation Department.