By admin 
Following a string of fatal crashes this summer on the steep, winding mountain road that connects Jackson, Wyoming, to the Idaho communities where many locals live, the Wyoming Department of Transportation now plans to implement a self-certification program that drivers with larger vehicles must complete before heading over Teton Pass.
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Once the program kicks in, RV drivers, motorists towing trailers, and operators of vehicles over 10,000 pounds will be barred from using Teton Pass unless they have completed the program. Seasonal closures and the 60,000-pound weight limit remain in effect.
“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,’” said WYDOT director Darin Westby in a news release.
“Educated drivers can make more informed decisions, which makes driving on the pass safer for everyone,” he added.
The program, according to WYDOT, will require that drivers “review educational materials, including documents, maps and/or videos, related to safe driving practices on mountain passes and will include information about navigating steep grades, current legal restrictions, brake fade protocols, weight and load limitations and vehicle operation.”
The release noted that applicants will be able to self-certify online through a website in which they will enter some basic information and review the required safety material. Once the applicant has completed the process, they will be sent a certification letter that will be active for one year. After one year, drivers can reapply for the program.
The Jackson Hole News & Guide reported that the program could launch as soon as early October, although WYDOT is still ironing out details regarding enforcement, public outreach and the certification process.
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The plan follows pressure on the state from public officials and community members to further restrict larger, potentially risky vehicles amid a summer that saw three fatalities and several injuries on Teton Pass, the News & Guide reported.
The newspaper reported that a crash that killed two people happened after the brakes on a dump truck carrying asphalt overheated and lost stopping power, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The truck collided with several vehicles, and its driver was later charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle. A Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper concluded that the driver had been moving too quickly down Teton Pass and overused the truck’s brakes, the News & Guide reported.
Teton Pass serves as a key link for skiers and workers traveling from Idaho to Jackson Hole. While another route connects the two communities, the road over the pass is the fastest connection and, between 2009 and 2023, has seen a 66% increase in average daily traffic, according to WYDOT.
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This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 11:15 AM.