New Safe Pass Program takes effect Oct. 1

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI)— After months of calls for improved safety on Teton Pass, the Wyoming Department of Transportation is enforcing a new program aimed at helping drivers better prepare for mountain driving.

The Safe Pass Program takes effect Oct. 1 and requires certain drivers to complete an online self-certification course before traveling on Teton Pass.

The program applies to vehicles towing trailers, recreational vehicles and vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight combination of more than 10,000 pounds, but anyone who drives the pass can do the program. The course is designed to educate drivers about the risks of mountain driving and how to safely navigate the pass.

The new program comes after multiple crashes resulting in deaths and injuries on Teton Pass this summer.

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"The Safe Pass Program is a great beginning," Jared Smith, a member of safety advocacy group 'Make Teton Pass Safer' said.

Jackson Hole Fire and EMS crews who respond to crashes on the pass say they have seen more incidents, which makes this new program essential in enforcing safety on the road.

Brian Coe, Deputy Chief of Operations says that increase also needs to be considered alongside the number of people using the road each day.

"We are responding to more incidents on the pass, but I just think that that is more correlated to how many people per day use the pass," Coe said.

Safety advocates say education is an important first step, but they also want additional enforcement and resources along the corridor.

"We're hopeful that the Highway Patrol will get increased funding. So that's a longer term measure that we're going to be working on with the legislature. Similar with Teton County Sheriff's deputies being able to be dedicated to the pass corridor, that's going to require funding from our decision makers. And so we want to continue to work on that aspect as well," Smith said.

Penalties for failing to complete the program and then driving on the pass are listed in the program's frequently asked questions.