ITD starting popular ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest

BOISE-The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and Idaho Department of Education areworking together tokick off thefirst everannual'Name a Snowplow' contest. Other states and highway departments across the country conductsimilarcampaignswith great success.

Starting October 1, eighth grade students across Idaho are invited to participatewith their classrooms to submita name. Contest entries will be accepted through the month of October with winning names announced by 2025.

"Our snowplow drivers are very thankful toschools that are able to join this fun educational opportunity andhelp increase winter driving safety awareness!" ITD Chief Operations Officer and Deputy DirectorDan McElhinney said.

Two plows in each of six Idaho regions will be selected through voting by ITD employees. Winning names will be displayed directly on ITD plows, with winners awarded a visit to their school by that plow and driverto talk about winter safety. News media will also be invited to attend plow namingevents.

This contest is a partnershipbetween ITD andthe Idaho Department of Education forteachers in eighth grade classrooms to opt in, with the hopes of sharing winter driving safety messagesas this age group will soon be in driver's educationclasses. Another goal ofadding unique names on plows is to cause all drivers to take a second look and be patient when driving through the winter.

"This contest is such a fun way to engage students with a safety message that's essential to our young drivers, especially as the weather cools and winter approaches," IdahoSuperintendent of Public InstructionDebbie Critchfield said. "I'mgrateful for the partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department and am definitely lookingforward to seeing some student-named plows on the road this winter."

More information regardingthe contest winners and plow naming events will be released once the submission and voting deadlineshavepassed.

Contest rules can be found on ITD's website.