Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced last week that the state had awarded more than $11.5 million in federal highway safety grants as part of a statewide focus on reducing roadway crashes and fatalities.
The funds, distributed by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office, are part of Moore’s efforts to increase safety on the state’s roadways through traffic safety initiatives.
“These investments are critical to building and maintaining a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system in Maryland,” Moore said. “Our administration is committed to partnering with local governments, officials and advocacy groups to reduce roadway injuries and fatalities and to ensure that highway safety remains a top priority across the state.”
The funds will be used on safety initiatives from increasing seat belt usage to preventing impaired, aggressive or distracted driving to increasing safety for pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists. Funds were awarded to 85 agencies, organizations or programs across the state and were based on crash data for each county and organization.
“Our administration is tackling the task of making our transportation systems safer from all angles,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. “With these investments and the work of the Work Zone Safety Work Group, we’re ensuring roadway users make it to their destinations safely and roadway workers and law enforcement officers make it home to their families.”
Moore’s office said in 2022 there were 564 traffic deaths on the state’s roads, including 137 pedestrians and 11 bicyclists. Already in 2023 there have been 419 deaths, 96 of which have been pedestrians. Police attribute speed, impairment and improper or inadequate seat belt use as the most common causes of traffic deaths.