ITD report finds crashes stable in Idaho, men accounting for most crashes

A report released this month by the Idaho Transportation Department indicates the number of crashes in the state has been mostly stable year over year, but come with a price tag of over $6 billion.

Most crash numbers, including total crashes, injury crashes and number of persons injured, stayed relatively stable in 2025 compared to 2024, with fluctuations of less than half a percent. The total number of persons involved in crashes in 2025 was 67,814, a 1.6% decrease from 2024.

Among overarching categories, only fatal crashes saw a sizable increase, up from 238 fatalities in 2024 to 252 fatalities in 2025, a 5.9% increase. The overwhelming majority of fatal crashes (94%) resulted in just one fatality, and 11 fatal crashes (5%) resulted in two fatalities. The most severe crash in 2025 brought seven fatalities, the result of an impaired driver who had a blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit.

Aggressive driving — including following too closely, driving too fast for conditions or failing to yield right of way — was a contributing factor in 48% of all crashes in Idaho in 2025. Though 80% of aggressive driving crashes were in urban areas, 56% of fatal aggressive driving crashes were in rural Idaho.

The report further noted findings in the number of vehicles involved and the types of roadways on which the crashes occurred. In 2025, single-vehicle crashes made up 28% of all crashes but 46% of fatal crashes. Of 107 fatal crashes involving a single vehicle, 70, or 56%, were on rural roadways.

Fatalities for 2024 and 2025 both remained below the recent 20-year peak in 2023, which saw 275 fatalities.

According to the report, 2025 saw one person killed in a car crash every 35 hours. For incidents of vehicle-related injury, it was every 44 minutes. When accounting for the cost of both fatalities and a range of severity in injuries, the cost of Idaho crashes in 2025 was an estimated $6.1 billion, or approximately $2,996 for each person in Idaho.

This year’s report showed a notable disparity in the factors contributing to crashes when comparing single-vehicle and multi-vehicle crashes.

For single-vehicle crashes, animal(s) in the roadway (23%), speed (18%) and failure to maintain lane (15%) were the top three contributing circumstances. For multi-vehicle crashes, the three most common factors were failing to yield (20%), following too closely (18%) and inattention or distraction (15%).

Reinforcing the Idaho Transportation Department’s 100 Deadliest Days awareness campaign, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the highest incidence of fatal crashes occurred in the months of June (30), July (25) and September (25).

Looking at county data, the total number of crashes in Canyon County declined from 4,409 in 2024 to 4,086 in 2025. Ada County, by contrast, saw a slight uptick in crashes, from 7,284 to 7,420.

When looking at cities with populations exceeding 40,000, the fatal and injury crash rate per 1,000 residents was highest in Meridian with a rate of 6.5, followed by Twin Falls at 5.7. Nampa and Pocatello had the third-highest fatal and injury crash rate at 4.8.

A breakdown of crashes by gender indicates that, despite having similar licensure rates as women, men are both more likely to be involved in crashes of all types and especially so in fatal crashes. The report found males comprised 51% of licensed drivers but accounted for 59% of all crashes and 79% of fatal crashes.

In 2025, males were 1.4 times more likely than females to be involved in any crash but were 3.6 times as likely as females to be involved in a fatal crash,” the report said.

The 120-page report outlining both national and statewide crash trends can be read in full on the Idaho Transportation Department’s website.