COLCHESTER, Vt. (WCAX) – Local law enforcement agencies are cracking down on dangerous driving on some notorious roads in Vermont.
They’re focusing on areas like Route 105 from St. Albans to Richford, the Chimney Corners area of Milton and Colchester, and the stretch of Route 2 connecting Interstate 89 to the islands– places where police have made efforts to curb the number of fatal crashes over the years.
“[Vermont Route] 105 is a nice scenic route and it doesn’t need to be used like a racetrack,” said Chuck Eldred of St. Albans.
Eldred often travels on Route 105 for work but says driver behavior in the area can be scary.
“I’ve had people pour it out and pass me when there’s vehicles coming the other way,” Eldred said. “On a solid yellow line, it seems like they get on a flat stretch or semi-flat stretch and they can’t wait to get past you.”
Data from the most recent corridor analysis by VTrans shows between 2018 and 2022 there were 169 crashes on the stretch between St. Albans, Sheldon and Enosburgh. Police recorded five fatal crashes there in 2022, and the data shows Sheldon had the highest traffic volume with most drivers speeding.
Then, following a separate fatal crash last summer, the Safe Highway Accident Reduction Program, or SHARP, set up nine scheduled enforcement details on Route 105.
“We said let’s do a couple things; let’s put some signage up letting people know they need to slow down and then let’s set up some details where we do enforcement,” said Lt. Allen Fortin of the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Office.
The details resulted in 69 tickets and two arrests. However, some residents say there needs to be more.
“You don’t ever really see nothing for cops up that way or sitting there, that’s why they think they can do whatever they want. You never see them setting radar or anything up that way hardly at all,” said Ricky Patterson of St. Albans.
Now, police are hoping to take what they learned up north and apply it in the Chimney Corners area of Chittenden County. The focus is on the roads that feed into Chimney Corners, like Route 2 and Route 7.
Fortin says the goal is not only to crack down on things like speeding and impaired driving but also to educate drivers.
“Some people learn by getting stopped and understanding, ‘Oh, my gosh! I didn’t even realize I was doing this.’ But some people it does take an actual traffic ticket in hand and saying, ‘Listen, there’s a consequence to your actions,’” Fortin explained.
Fortin says when you get in your car to start your drive, put your phone in the center console to avoid distraction, make sure your seat belt is on and fastened, and you’re keeping your eyes on the road.