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Vermont officials report small rise in 2025 traffic fatalities amid data gaps
Summary
Vermont Agency of Transportation data managers told a House Transportation committee that provisional figures show a roughly 3% rise in 2025 traffic fatalities (about two people) and widespread reporting shortfalls that complicate analysis; eight December fatal crashes remain pending toxicology.
Mandy Gattney, manager of the data and analytics section at the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), told the House Transportation Committee on Jan. 14 that 2025 crash counts are provisional and show a small increase in fatalities compared with 2024.
Gattney said VTrans' five-year rolling averages are used to smooth fluctuations, but provisional 2025 numbers show a roughly 3% increase in fatalities (a difference of two people) and that the agency is still awaiting toxicology results for eight December fatal crashes. She emphasized the small absolute counts: "These are still 60, 70 people or families that are losing loved ones," and noted the time required for fatal-crash investigations can be as long as 90 days.
The presentation highlighted several category-level changes year to year: impaired-driving fatalities rose by about six people, unbelted fatalities increased by about 5% (around one person), and speed-related fatal crashes decreased (a net change of seven crashes going from 27 to 20). Gattney also told lawmakers that "we only work with the reported ones, unfortunately," warning that a decline in law-enforcement reporting of minor crashes makes it difficult to know total crash volume.
On statewide patterns, Gattney said Vermont tracks below the national fatality rate but that county-level maps show higher crash rates by vehicle-miles-traveled in Chittenden, Lamoille, Bennington and Windham counties. The presentation and the agency's 2024 crash story map were offered as sources for further review.
Gattney urged caution when reading percentage changes because of small counts and provisional data, and she called for improved data collection to capture modern vehicle technologies (for example, lane-assist or automatic braking) that are not currently recorded on the state crash form.
The committee reserved additional time for follow-up; Gattney's presentation materials and the crash story map will be posted by VTrans.
The committee is scheduled to resume related testimony later in the day.
