TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Summer vacation has officially started for many families in the area, and the 100 Deadliest Days have begun.

According to the Office of Highway Safety, 82 lives were lost in Idaho last year during this time.

“Safety has got to be number one,” said Matthew Conde, the public affairs director for AAA Idaho.

He said he would expect high road congestion starting with Memorial Day weekend.

“Forty-five million Americans, 274,000 Idahoans. It’s going to be very busy no matter which way you go. But on the roads, you’re going to see a million more people than you did just one year ago,” Conde said.

Experts said 2025 will be a record-breaking year, as an additional 1.4 million travelers will travel compared to last year.

Conde advised to beat that congestion by leaving earlier in the day.

“Coming back, if you can avoid between 3 and 7 o’clock on Memorial Day, that’s going to be a busy time as well. So obviously a lot of people have kids in school and stuff like that. They’re all going to be coming back late afternoon, early evening,” he said.

The Idaho Department of Transportation advised drivers to stay engaged, slow down and wear seat belts.

Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Deputy Brook Prudent said his office is tightening on wearing seat belts.

“We’ve got extra guys working or extra deputies out on the road specifically looking for seat belt enforcement. During that time, they’ll make stops for just about anything,” Prudent said.

The sheriff’s office is also taking extra precautions during this period.

“The big thing that we do is just try to be more active in traffic enforcement, trying to get people to abide by the traffic laws,” Prudent said.

To promote safe driving, Gov. Brad Little proclaimed next week as Safe Driver Week.

“The idea there is to focus on some of the most dangerous behaviors that go on,” Conde said. ”The impaired driving, the distracted driving, the aggressive driving, drowsy driving, failure to wear a seat belt.”

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