SANDPOINT — A report used to identify traffic safety problems and targets for crash-reduction programs shows that Bonner County is seeing an increase in crashes and fatalities, an upward trend that continues to prompt transportation officials to work on improving roadway safety.

According to the report, Bonner County has seen a 60% increase in fatal crashes from 2024 to 2025 — five to eight fatalities — and a 6.7% increase in injury-causing crashes — 179 to 191 crashes. In total crashes, Bonner County has seen a 4.85% increase from 2024 to 2025 — 639 to 670 total crashes. The statistics reflect an overall increase from 2023, the earliest reported year in the county’s crash history documents.  

Of the 670 crashes in 2025, 191 crashes resulted in injuries, with a total of 252 people injured because of a crash.  

The eight fatalities in Bonner County are part of District 1’s total of 34 fatalities. Bonner County has the second-highest fatalities in the district, with Kootenai County having 13 in 2025. Benewah, Shoshone and Boundary counties saw six, five and two fatalities, respectively. 

Across the state, officials reported a total of 28,127 crashes in 2025, 231 of which were fatal. 252 persons were killed as a result. The report notes that only 41% of the individuals killed in crashes were wearing seat belts.  

“If everyone had been wearing seat belts, 36 of the 72 unbelted motor vehicle occupants killed may have been survived,” the report said.  

In Bonner County, five of the fatalities and 31 injuries were a result of impaired driving in 2025.  

Additionally, 35% of the fatalities in 2025 were caused by impaired drivers. Of the impaired driving crashes, 87% were either the impaired driver, a person riding with the impaired driver or an impaired pedestrian. The report also notes that 10% of the impaired drivers were under 21.  

Drivers between the ages of 15 to 19 were 2.1 times more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury crash in 2025, with 35 people being killed in crashes involving a youthful driver.  

Data also shows that 100% of fatal crashes due to distractions were because of a passenger inside the vehicle. In total crashes, 35% of them occurred due to electronic communication devices and 30% due to a passenger.  

“The economic cost of crashes involving distracted driving was nearly $980 million in 2025. This represents 16% of the total costs of Idaho crashes,” the report said.  

In 2025, ITD reports that 2025’s total crashes cost nearly $6.1 billion in economic costs.  

ITD public information officer Heather McDaniel said it's important to keep in mind the rate of growth during the period in which the crash statistics/trends are being reported.  

Although the report doesn’t go further in-depth on traffic influx in Bonner County, it reports that licensed drivers in Idaho increased by 4% in 2025 — 1.43 million to 1.49 million — a population increase of 1% — 2.02 million to 2.03 million — and an 18% increase in registered motor vehicles — 1.9 million to 2.24 million.  

Major roadways that travel through Bonner County have also seen an increase in drivers. U.S. Highway 2 averages 5,259 daily traffic in 2025, compared to 5,029 in 2024. U.S. Highway 95 reflects an increase of 6,189 daily traffic in 2025, with 6,100 in 2024.  

State Highway 200 saw an influx of 4,049 daily traffic from 3,977 in 2024.  

Daily traffic is measured throughout the entire distance of the roadway through Idaho and is not only highlighting Bonner County sections of the roadway. 

Data accumulated to make this report is used by state and local agencies to identify traffic safety problems and target areas for the development of crash reductions. McDaniel says that all current and future projects in District 1 are rooted in improving safety across North Idaho.  

“You really won't find a project that ITD has going that doesn’t have a significant safety nexus, considering that protecting and enhancing safety is at the core of everything we do,” McDaniel said. 

A full report of Idaho’s 2025 traffic crashes can be found at shorturl.at/ecpav. 

    State of Idaho District One 2025 Fatal Crashes
  

    Percentage of Distracted In or On Vehicle Total Crashes by Type of Distraction: 2025
  

    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.