WILSON, Wyo. — Following a spate of collisions on WY22 over Teton Pass, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) announced that it is in the early stages of developing a safe driving program aimed at improving driver education specifically geared toward the challenges of mountain pass driving.
The WY22 Safe Pass program will require drivers of recreational vehicles, drivers towing trailers and drivers operating a vehicle weighing more than 10,000 pounds to complete the program and “self-certify their ability to navigate mountain driving,” WYDOT’s announcement states. Applicants can access the safety program online; those who complete the training process will receive a certification letter that will be active for one year.
“Once the program is launched, RV drivers, motorists towing trailers, and operators of vehicles over 10,000 pounds will be restricted from using Teton Pass unless they have completed the program,” the announcement states. “All existing regulations — including seasonal closures and the 60,000-pound weight limit — remain strictly in effect.”
The training program will include educational documents, maps and videos covering such topics as navigating steep grades, current legal restrictions, brake fade protocols, vehicle operation, and weight and load limitations. Drivers will also be instructed of alternate routes in the area.
WYDOT anticipates rolling out the program by this October. The agency’s announcement did not disclose details regarding how the requirement will be enforced.
“This program is not intended to replace other legal requirements to maintain control of your vehicle, it’s a self-certification process that helps people look at this pass and acknowledge, ‘Yes, I am confident in my equipment and ability to navigate Teton Pass safely,’” WYDOT Director Darin Westby said in the announcement. “Educated drivers can make more informed decisions, which makes driving on the pass safer for everyone.”
