BOISE – Governor Brad Little has proclaimed May 25-31, 2025, as “Safe Driver Week” to discourage risky behavior behind the wheel.  Safe Driver Week has been timed for the start of the 100 Deadliest Days, the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day when crash fatalities soar nationwide.

In part, the proclamation reads, “Distracted driving, impaired driving, drowsy driving, aggressive driving, and failure to wear a seat belt are contributing factors in many traffic deaths…education and awareness efforts lead to positive driving outcomes…and all Idaho families deserve to have their friends and loved ones safely reach their destinations.”

AAA Idaho created the Safe Driver Week campaign in an effort to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on roads throughout the Gem State.

“No matter your mode of travel, everyone wants a safe and joyful journey from Point A to Point B.  Individual driving decisions can make all the difference,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde.  “By dedicating five days to addressing some of the riskiest behavior, we hope drivers will take proactive steps to break any bad habits.”

Safe Driver Week – areas of emphasis

  • Distracted driving (Monday, May 26) – According to the Idaho Transportation Department, distracted driving was a factor in 14% of all fatal crashes between 2020 and 2024*, with 49* people killed in distracted driving crashes last year.

AAA urges drivers to ditch the distractions.  Texting, emailing, social media, entering navigation, and grooming should be done while the vehicle is safely parked.

  • Impaired driving (Tuesday, May 27) – ITD’s preliminary data notes that 41% of all fatal crashes from 2020-2024 involved impaired driving, with 502 people killed in impaired driving crashes over that time.

AAA asks drivers to make other arrangements ahead of time, including a designated driver, ride-hailing service, or taxi.

  • Drowsy driving (Wednesday, May 28) – ITD estimates that drowsy driving was a factor in 3,183 crashes in Idaho between 2020 and 2024, resulting in 31 deaths.  819 of those crashes involved drivers ages 20 and younger.

In AAA’s most recent research, 96% of drivers recognized the dangers of drowsy driving, yet 20% reported driving when they had a hard time keeping their eyes open at least once in the previous 30 days.

“Please get the recommended seven hours of sleep before you set out on your trip and consider switching drivers or taking a stretch break every couple of hours,” Conde said.  “Remember, caffeine, the radio, and blowing cold air in your face are not effective when you’re truly tired.”

AAA warns drivers to pull over and get rest at the first signs of trouble, including “microsleeps,” when they temporarily nod off.

  • Aggressive driving (Thursday, May 29) – ITD’s preliminary data reports that 46% of serious injury crashes between 2020 and 2024 involved some form of aggressive driving, including speeding, quickly changing lanes, and tailgating, with the most common aggressive driving crash being a rear-end collision.

AAA asks drivers to maintain a safe following distance of at least three seconds from the vehicle in front of them, and even more distance during adverse weather conditions.  Please drive at safe speeds and avoid sudden movements that could result in a crash or leaving the roadway.

  • Failure to wear a seat belt (Friday, May 30) – Seat belts improve your chances of surviving a crash by 50%.  While most Idahoans (86%) wear their seat belts, some do not take advantage of this basic piece of life-saving equipment.  Last year, an estimated 88 people who were killed in crashes on Idaho roads were not wearing seat belts.

AAA reminds drivers to always wear their seat belt, and to insist that everyone else in the vehicle does so.

“The summer is filled with so many adventures and wonderful possibilities,” Conde said.  “Let’s all do our part to prevent it from ending in tragedy.”

AAA will share social media posts for each day of Safe Driver Week.  Members of the public are also encouraged to promote #SafeDriverWeek to help friends and loved ones stay safe this summer.

*All ITD data for 2024 is preliminary