The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) will implement a new Teton Pass self-certification program for drivers of certain types of vehicles.
On September 10, WYDOT announced the WY22 SAFE PASS program to improve mountain pass driver safety on Teton Pass.
Once the program is in place, drivers of certain large vehicles will be restricted from using Teton Pass if they have not completed the WY22 SAFE PASS certification.
Drivers of the following vehicle types will be required to obtain certification to use Teton Pass: recreational vehicles, towing trailers or vehicles who have a gross vehicle weight and/or a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.
WYDOT expects the program to go live in October 2026.
Drivers who want to obtain the certification will be able to do so through a website. Once the certification is achieved, drivers will receive a certification letter that is valid for one year.
The certification course will require applicants to “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 course will also educate drivers about alternate routes to avoid Teton Pass.
“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. “Educated drivers can make more informed decisions, which makes driving on the pass safer for everyone.”
Until the program goes into effect, WYDOT asks drivers to slow down, obey posted speed limits, use a lower gear on steep grades, avoid distracted driving, and wear a seatbelt.
Several serious crashes have recently occurred on Teton Pass, including a July 7 multi-vehicle collision involving a dump truck that lost brake control. Two people were killed, and dump truck driver Laiton George McMinn, 22, of Idaho, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of homicide by vehicle.
