MARYLAND — Whereas states throughout the nation skilled a rise in roadway fatalities final 12 months, Maryland noticed a 3 p.c lower.

But regardless of the drop in freeway fatalities, officers mentioned Maryland nonetheless noticed an “unacceptable” variety of crashes – 519 – leading to 557 fatalities, together with 129 pedestrians and 6 bicyclists.

“Now we have the flexibility, and the accountability, to cease these useless tragedies,” Maryland Division of Transportation Secretary James F. Ports, Jr. mentioned throughout a information convention “Immediately, I problem each individual – each driver, passenger, motorcyclist, pedestrian, bicyclist – each single one that makes use of our roadways. Let’s work collectively to deliver the variety of fatalities on Maryland roads to zero.”

In keeping with a latest “Highway Security Attitudes and Habits” survey carried out by WBA Analysis on behalf of MDOT, nearly all of Maryland street customers throughout all areas and demographic teams contemplate unsafe driving — 93 p.c —a serious drawback.

Superintendent Col. Jones with Maryland State Police mentioned impaired driving, rushing, distracted and aggressive driving are all main components contributing to the state’s visitors fatalities.

The survey additionally discovered that:

• About 41% of Maryland drivers surveyed admitted to incessantly or typically driving 15 MPH or extra over the velocity restrict on a freeway
• 57% of respondents mentioned they do not really feel snug strolling alongside or crossing roadways. Nevertheless, 37% mentioned they all the time make the most of a crosswalk when accessible.
• 5% of drivers surveyed admitted to not sporting their seat belt when sitting within the entrance seat of the automobile.
• 76% of cyclists who bike alongside roadways indicated within the survey that they comply with the identical guidelines of the street that they might in a automobile.
• Greater than 3% of these surveyed admitted to driving impaired previously 30 days.

State officers met Monday to develop steps for Maryland’s Strategic Freeway Security Plan, a five-year program with the purpose of eliminating visitors fatalities and critical accidents by 2030.

“Yearly, we make the tragic announcement of the quantity of people that have misplaced their life attributable to preventable crashes on our roadways,” mentioned MDOT Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who additionally serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Freeway Security Consultant. “We’re dedicated to zero deaths by quite a lot of methods, nevertheless it’s as much as every of us to be a accountable street consumer each time we get in a automobile by sporting a seat belt, slowing down, driving sober, staying centered and sharing the street with pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.”

As of April 4, there have been 134 reported fatalities on Maryland roadways in 2022, in keeping with Zero Deaths Maryland.