Getting Answers: Are tractor-trailer crashes on the increase?

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - We’re getting answers this week about recent tractor-trailer crashes.

WCAX viewer Moe wrote in to us saying, “There seems to be an increase in semi accidents in Vermont this year,” adding that he’s concerned about safety on the roads.

A crash on I-9 in Derby on Monday was attributed to an axle failure on the big rig. That driver had minor injuries.

VTrans officials say another crash on I-89 in Bolton last week, where the tractor-trailer unit ended up across both north and south lanes, was the result of driver error. They say that the driver was cited for being ill or fatigued behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle.

As for the big picture of semi truck safety, officials say that commercial motor vehicle crashes were actually down 12 percent last year from the previous year, and fatalities were down 40 percent in that same time frame.

The DMV says they also increased roadside inspections by more than 41 percent, checking nearly 9,000 vehicles. They say they think the increased safety checks helped bring the crashes and fatalities down.

So, while some of these high-profile crashes get a lot of attention, they aren’t indicative of a higher crash rate.

Do you have a question you want us to try to answer for you? Send us a note at [email protected], and we’ll try to get some answers for you, too.

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