Vermont Officials Urge Safe Driving: Key Safety Tips

Last Updated on February 5, 2026

With fatal crashes rising in recent years, Vermont officials are asking all drivers to seriously consider the safety of their driving habits. In 2024, the state recorded one of its highest fatal-crash totals in more than a decade. Officials are emphasizing three core behaviors that can save lives: slowing down, wearing seatbelts, and avoiding impaired driving.

In recent statewide analyses, many of Vermont’s fatal crashes involved drivers who were unrestrained or impaired. Excessive speed also played a major role. While Vermont’s total number of crashes may be lower than in larger states, its per-capita fatality rate is concerning — and every life lost represents a preventable tragedy. As the state promotes safer habits, these efforts only work if drivers make the right choices behind the wheel.

Vermont officials warn drivers after a surge in fatal crashes, emphasizing speeding, restraint use, and impaired driving as leading factors.
One-third of recent Vermont fatalities involved speeding, underscoring how even small increases in speed dramatically raise crash severity.
Seatbelts remain one of the most effective ways to prevent serious injury or death, yet dozens of victims were unrestrained.
Impaired driving — from alcohol or drugs — continues to be a major cause of deadly crashes, raising legal, financial, and insurance consequences.

The Basic Rules of Safe Driving

Vermont Says “Slow Down!”

Speeding continues to be one of the most significant contributors to deadly crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding is a factor in nearly one-third of all fatal accidents nationwide. Even small increases above the speed limit can dramatically raise the severity of a collision, especially on rural roads where many Vermont crashes occur.

Aside from the safety risk, speeding tickets can affect your auto insurance. Insurers review your driving history when calculating premiums, and repeated violations can raise your rates or even lead to policy cancellation. Staying within the speed limit not only saves lives — it can also save money.

Vermont Says “Wear Your Seatbelt!”

Despite decades of public awareness campaigns, seatbelt use is still not universal. Out of Vermont’s recent fatal crashes, many victims were not properly restrained. While no one can say for certain whether a seatbelt would have saved each of these lives, seatbelts are proven to significantly reduce the risk of serious injury or death.

Seatbelts prevent occupants from being thrown around inside the vehicle, ejected during a rollover, or slammed into the dashboard or windshield. Younger drivers — especially teens — continue to have some of the lowest seatbelt-use rates nationwide, and the consequences can be devastating.

In Vermont, not wearing a seatbelt is a secondary offense, meaning drivers must be stopped for another violation first. But the legal penalty is only part of the issue — insurance companies may also raise premiums when seatbelt-related violations appear alongside other citations. Even a single ticket can have long-term financial consequences.

Vermont Says “Call a Taxi!”

Impaired driving remains a major cause of fatal crashes in Vermont. Whether the impairment comes from drugs or alcohol, the danger is the same. Alcohol slows reaction times, impairs vision, affects coordination, and reduces judgment — all critical skills for safe driving. Many drugs, whether stimulants or depressants, create similar risks.

Even one drink can be enough for some drivers to surpass the legal limit. And if you’re pulled over while impaired, the consequences are severe: jail time, hefty penalties, a criminal record, and a likely spike in insurance rates. A DUI/DWI is extremely expensive — beyond state fines, you may need to hire a lawyer, complete mandated programs, and pay dramatically higher premiums for years. Depending on your driving history, your insurer may even cancel the policy entirely.

Calling a taxi, rideshare service, or sober friend is always the safer and cheaper option.

Want to Drive Safely? You Should Listen to Vermont

The core principles of safe driving are simple — slow down, buckle up, and never drive impaired. Yet failing to follow these basic rules leads to avoidable tragedies every year. The legal, financial, and emotional consequences can be life-changing. By making responsible choices, drivers protect themselves, their passengers, and everyone else sharing the road.

Vermont officials are right: safe driving saves lives. The question is whether motorists will take the message seriously.

FAQs

Why are Vermont officials so concerned about recent crash trends?

Vermont has seen a troubling rise in fatal crashes in recent years, with 2024 recording one of the highest totals in more than a decade. Analysis shows that many of these deaths involved speeding, lack of seatbelt use, and impaired driving. Because Vermont’s population is relatively small, its per-capita fatality rate is especially concerning—each crash represents a preventable tragedy.

How does speeding increase crash risk and severity?

Speeding reduces the time you have to react and increases the distance required to stop. Even small increases above the speed limit can dramatically raise the force of impact in a collision, especially on rural roads where many Vermont crashes occur. At higher speeds, minor mistakes—like drifting over the center line or misjudging a curve—are much more likely to result in fatal outcomes.

Why is wearing a seatbelt still such a big deal?

Seatbelts remain one of the most effective ways to prevent serious injury or death in a crash. They keep you from being thrown around the cabin, ejected from the vehicle, or slammed into the dashboard or windshield. In many of Vermont’s recent fatal crashes, victims were unrestrained. While no one can guarantee a seatbelt would have saved every life, the data is clear: buckling up dramatically improves your chances of survival.

Is impaired driving still a major problem in Vermont?

Yes. Impaired driving—whether from alcohol or drugs—continues to be a leading cause of deadly crashes. Impairment slows reaction times, affects coordination, and reduces judgment, all of which are critical for safe driving. Even one drink can be enough to put some drivers over the legal limit. The legal consequences are severe: possible jail time, large fines, a criminal record, and years of dramatically higher insurance premiums.

How do speeding, seatbelt violations, and DUIs affect my insurance?

Insurers review your driving record when setting your premium. Speeding tickets, seatbelt citations, and especially DUIs/DWIs all signal higher risk. One or two minor violations may cause modest increases, but repeated offenses—or a single serious DUI—can lead to steep surcharges, policy non-renewal, or being placed in a high-risk pool. Safe driving protects more than your life; it also protects your wallet.

Why is Vermont emphasizing such basic rules like “slow down, buckle up, and don’t drive impaired”?

Because these simple behaviors save lives. Most fatal crashes are not caused by freak accidents—they’re caused by preventable choices: driving too fast, not wearing a seatbelt, or getting behind the wheel while impaired. Vermont officials are reminding drivers that if more people followed these basic rules, many deadly crashes could be avoided altogether.

What can I do personally to support safer roads in Vermont?

You can start by examining your own habits: obey speed limits, always wear your seatbelt, never drive impaired, and avoid distractions like texting. Encourage friends and family—especially teens and young adults—to do the same. If someone you’re with is impaired, insist they call a taxi, rideshare, or sober driver. Culture changes one choice at a time, and your decisions behind the wheel make a real difference.