GLEN BURNIE, Md — In a troubling development, Maryland has witnessed 16 traffic-related fatalities within a single week, marking the second instance this year in which the state has reached this severe benchmark. In light of this alarming trend, both the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland State Police are urging all drivers to be extra vigilant while on the roads.
A significant portion of these fatalities, precisely 12 out of the 16, occurred during the weekend.
“Experiencing 16 fatalities in just one week is shocking; it’s a figure we do not encounter frequently, and certainly not one we wish to endure,” stated Tim Kerns.
As of August 31, a total of 279 lives have been lost on Maryland roads this year. While this figure is an improvement compared to the 314 deaths reported by the same time last year, Kerns emphasized that it is still unacceptably high.
According to Kerns, both speeding and impaired driving are contributing factors in approximately one-third of the state’s traffic fatalities. In response to these findings, the department recently initiated the “Slow the Fast Down” campaign.
“We introduced the Slow the Fast Down campaign because speeding accounts for about one-third of fatalities throughout the state, with impaired driving contributing to another third,” Kerns explained.
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Kerns noted that excessive speeding remains a significant issue on Maryland highways.
“We regularly receive reports of individuals driving at speeds exceeding 90 or even 100 miles per hour on our interstates and other state-maintained roads,” he said.
However, speed is not the sole factor; Kerns indicated that drivers adhering to speed limits can still find themselves in perilous situations due to a variety of road conditions.
The rise in traffic fatalities coincides with the return of students to schools across Maryland, increasing the urgency of the department’s appeal for distraction-free driving.
“We want to ensure that everyone remains focused on the road, particularly now that school is back in session,” Kerns added.
The Maryland Department of Transportation stressed that road safety continues to be a primary concern.
“Our daily objective is to guarantee that everyone who leaves home in the morning arrives safely back at night,” Kerns stated.
This story was originally reported by a journalist on-air and has been adapted for this platform with assistance from AI. Our editorial team diligently verifies all reporting across all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
