Every year in Vermont, we lose an average of six pedestrians and one bicyclist to traffic crashes. Another 130 people are hospitalized—just for walking or biking on our roads.
These aren’t just statistics. These are lives cut short. These are our neighbors, our friends, our loved ones.
And here’s something many people don’t realize: 69% of pedestrian deaths in Vermont happen in rural areas—small towns like ours. Places like Jericho.
We are not immune. In fact, we are part of the problem.
What Happens at 30 MPH? A 40% Chance of Death.
Most people don’t think twice about driving 30 or even 35 mph through town. But the difference between a “safe” speed and a fatal one is much smaller than we think.
A pedestrian hit by a car going just 30 mph has a 40% chance of being killed.
At 50 mph or higher, that risk jumps to nearly 100%.
And yet, on Browns Trace, right here in Jericho, speeding is not the exception—it’s the norm.
The Alarming Numbers on Browns Trace
We looked at real speed data collected by the CC RCP (Data available from the Town Clerk) over six days in September 2024. Here's what the data shows in summary:
In 2013, 463 cars per day were clocked at 30–35 mph.
By last year, that number had ballooned to 1,902 cars per day.Cars going 35–40 mph have skyrocketed from 107 per day to 1,060 per day.
256 cars daily now drive through at 40–45 mph.
22 cars a day go 50 mph or faster.
And here’s the most shocking stat: six cars a day are going over 70 mph on Browns Trace.
These are not the numbers of a quiet, safe, residential road.
These are the numbers of a highway. A dangerous one.
This Is a Trend—And It’s Not a Good One
Speeding on Browns Trace has increased dramatically over the past decade. And as the speed goes up, so does the danger—not just for pedestrians and cyclists, but for everyone on the road.
We cannot ignore this any longer.
We Need Slow and Safe Streets—Now
It’s easy to think, “It won’t happen here.”
Until it does.
If we don't take action, more people will be hurt. More lives will be lost. And we will look back, wondering why we didn’t do something sooner.
Let’s not wait for another tragedy.
Let’s slow our streets.
Let’s protect our community.
Let’s make Jericho safe for everyone—walkers, bikers, children, families, and drivers alike.
Join Us.
We’re calling on town leaders, residents, and everyone who cares about safety in Jericho to step up. Support traffic calming. Advocate for safer streets.
Let's Thank The Jericho Select Board for committing to finding solutions that will provide us with slower and safer streets.
Because every life matters.
And no one should die just for walking down the road.
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