Maryland's Toward Zero Deaths Campaign Paying Off
Traffic fatalities in the state during 2014 fell to 442, the lowest number since 1948, officials announced March 24.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn, Acting State Police Superintendent William M. Pallozzi and Motor Vehicle Administrator and Governor's Highway Safety Representative Milt Chaffee announced March 24 that traffic deaths on Maryland roads during 2014 totaled 442, which was the lowest number since 1948. (The highest number of traffic fatalities in a single year was 872 in 1968.)
"Maryland has cut the number of fatalities in half on our roads thanks to 50 years of hard work on our highways, in our communities, and in the legislature," Rahn said. "This historically low number of traffic fatalities means we truly can make a difference when we work together to save lives."
Maryland's Toward Zero Deaths campaign is part of the story. It includes the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign and Checkpoint Strikeforce. Toward Zero Deaths focuses on preventing impaired driving, aggressive driving, and distracted driving while also promoting seat belt use and pedestrian safety. The state's Strategic Highway Safety Plan addresses six major areas of traffic safety: aggressive driving prevention, impaired driving prevention, distracted driving prevention, highway infrastructure, occupant protection, and pedestrian safety.
"The fewest killed on Maryland's highways in 66 years—it's a tremendous accomplishment. Congratulations and thanks to all who contributed, including the police, the state and local agencies, the legislators, and advocacy groups," said AAA Mid-Atlantic Managing Director Mahlon Anderson, who took part in the announcement.