Could The New Lights on Idaho Snowplows Be a Lifesaving Upgrade

The 12 highway snowplows in Idaho have been in the news a few times recently. Thankfully, the news hasn’t been due to an influx of accidents.

Instead, the snowplows have been in the news due to a possibly life-saving upgrade to their plow blades and the announcement of their new names for this winter season.

ITD Announces New Names and Potentially Lifesaving Upgrades to 12 Snowplows

In an effort to make snowplows more visible to drivers and cut down on vehicular accidents, ITD announced that it is testing out new lights on some of the snowplows. Residents in Eastern Idaho will see the upgraded plows this winter, which include a large and bright green light on the edge of the side plow blade and additional lights on the cab and back of the truck, and new reflective striping on the back of the trucks.

The lights that prove to be beneficial will be added to other plows across the state.

Is More Lighting the Cure for Idaho Snowplow Accidents?

ITD shared stats on the last few years of snowplow-related accidents on their website. They noted 17 accidents in 2023 and 11 in 2024, mostly due to other vehicles hitting the side (wing) plow blade.

On social media, the Idaho Transportation Department has been posting its 12 Days of Christmas (ITD Style), and day 11 featured information about the lighting on the snowplows. It also reminded drivers that snowplows are considered emergency vehicles, which requires drivers to give them space on the roads, move over, and slow down around them.

That being said, it isn’t illegal to pass a snowplow in Idaho, but you should never pass on the right, as they have a blade that extends up to 10 feet off the side. You should only pass with an abundance of caution when it is safe, as we noted in our story about things that feel illegal in Idaho but aren’t.

The Idaho Transportation Department allows residents to rename the plows each year. You can see the new names for 2025 below and where in Idaho each plow is assigned, and keep scrolling to see what the names were in 2024.

Idaho Snowplows

These names were picked by local students.

Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola

Here’s what they were named in 2024 and where each plow works. Give them a look and let us know if you like their new names or the ones from last year.