Roadway Fatalities Increase in Maryland and Across Nation
Officials Unveil New Strategic Plan to Reduce Traffic Crashes and Fatalities
"This tragic increase in people killed on our roadways is unacceptable," said Deputy Transportation Secretary Jim Ports. "For all of us dedicating our lives to highway safety, this increase in fatalities is a call to action to strengthen and expand our efforts to save lives on our roads."
Along with a rise in overall fatalities, Maryland experienced the following increases:
"Police officers in Maryland recognize the important mission we have in reducing traffic crashes," Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel William Pallozzi said. "Our strict enforcement of traffic laws is a daily reminder to drivers that our laws are in place for their safety and violation of those laws impacts the safety of everyone on our roads. Our goal continues to be changing driver behavior by enforcement that is focused on those areas and driving behaviors where the need is greatest."
The data was announced at an event to formally kick off Maryland's implementation of a five-year plan to combat traffic crashes and the resulting serious injuries and fatalities. Known as the Maryland Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), the effort brings together local, state, and federal partners and organizations such as the National Safety Council, AAA, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, AT&T, and numerous other corporate, non-profit, and public sector partners. The SHSP contains more than 30 separate strategies to reduce overall roadway fatalities by at least 50 percent in the next two decades. The Plan emphasizes solutions from the "Four Es" of highway safety - Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Medical Services - and comprehensively addresses the troubling increase in roadway fatalities.
"We lose 100 people every day on our nation's roadways, and every single one of these deaths is preventable," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "This uptick in crashes is serving notice: We need to prioritize our safety. Driving defensively and staying alert can help us reverse this trend in 2016."
To reduce congestion, enhance roadway safety and fix all structurally deficient state-owned bridges, Governor Larry Hogan allocated nearly $2 billion in highway funds targeted to long-awaited improvements throughout the state. These improvements, along with recently announced roadway investments, include:
The Hogan administration also is investing millions in targeted law enforcement strategies aimed at catching and arresting drunk drivers and educational campaigns focused on impaired driving, pedestrian safety, seat belt use and distracted driving. MDOT recently expanded a statewide campaign to help fight driver distraction by installing 26 signs prior to
"It Can Wait!" is written in large letters on the signs to remind drivers that their call/text can wait until they reach the next rest area.
Officials at today's event highlighted areas that have historically been leading causes of deaths on Maryland's roads, including:
MDOT and its partners remind everyone of a few simple rules that will help save lives:
# # #
Note: Maryland's Toward Zero Deaths campaign focuses on preventing impaired driving, aggressive driving and distracted driving and promotes seatbelt use. For more information on the Toward Zero Deaths campaign, please visit towardzerodeathsmd.com.
Maryland Department of Transportation
Maryland's Goal: Toward Zero Deaths
Linthicum Heights, MD (April 26, 2016) - With several hundred federal, state and local traffic safety experts meeting at the 2016 Strategic Highway Safety Plan Summit to develop solutions to save lives on Maryland roadways, officials from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Maryland State Police and National Safety Council today announced that in 2015, 520 people died in traffic-related crashes on Maryland's roadways. According to data collected by MDOT, the preliminary figure represents an increase from the previous year when 443 people were killed and follows a trend that has seen roadway deaths increase nationwide.
13 rest areas alerting motorists of Maryland's law that prohibits the use of handheld electronic devices while driving.