From roads to sledding, Friday’s snow was fun for some — but not for travelers around the Treasure Valley.
BOISE, Idaho – A fresh snowfall can mean many different things to people. It provided a day of fun for roller coasters who flocked to Camel’s Back Park to race down its hill. But snow can also be a headache for vacationers.
Weather conditions across the region led to delays and cancellations on one of the busiest travel days of the year. Boise Airport was visited by a team of furry friends to help travelers cope with anxiety.
“They bring so much comfort to people wherever they go. Our mission is to bring comfort to our four-legged friends,” said Jo Egbert, Go Team Idaho Therapy Dogs team coordinator. “And at the airport, kids are anxious, they’re stressed, and so we can say hello and they can pet a dog, and they immediately calm down. The main goal is to de-stress.”
Air travel wasn’t the only thing affected by the snow. From asphalt to roads, snow and ice can also be a hazard to drivers.
As of 2 p.m. Friday, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office responded to 24 crashes and six rollovers due to winter weather conditions.
“The way it is in Idaho, winter hits us hard – today is proof of that. We see a much higher increase in accidents, mainly because people don’t really understand how to slow down,” Sgt. Doug Harward of the Nampa Police Department said. “It’s more about respecting the roads as they are, not so much being afraid of them, but just respecting the fact that they can be a little bit more dangerous.”
Harward said one of the most important things drivers should do when snow is on the road is to slow down and give themselves some extra space.
“When you’re that close to another vehicle — if you start to slide, it happens quickly,” Harward said. “So if you give yourself a little extra space, give yourself more time. At the end of the day, it comes down to the fact that everyone is in a rush, it’s the holidays, you want to do your last-minute shopping. And so we’re just asking people to give themselves a little more time, slow down a little — and more time to slow down and break down.”
It’s also helpful to keep your car’s daytime running lights on, most newer cars will turn them on automatically.
The posted speed limits are for dry and clear roads, poor road conditions mean drivers should slow down. Idaho has a basic rule that requires motorists to drive at a speed that is “reasonable and prudent” at all times, under all conditions.
“If it’s raining, if it’s snowing, if it’s icy outside, we’d encourage you to slow down and drive within reason and within your skill level so you don’t get into an accident, cause an accident, or simply to be a danger to them. on the road,” Harward said.
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