The federal, state and local government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak has been unprecedented. Schools are closed, restaurants are relegated to delivery and carryout options only and all other non-essential businesses are shut down in an effort to protect the most vulnerable citizens. In time, life will get back to normal, businesses will re-open and traffic will return to the road.
When we leave our homes in the morning, however, we often take for granted that we will arrive to work or our other destinations unharmed. But how safe are we on Maryland’s roads? What preventative measures have been taken by the government to protect all roadway users? What safety features are car manufacturers implementing to keep occupants, other drivers and pedestrians safe?
As of March 27, 2020, there have been five deaths from COVID-19, in the state of Maryland, or less than .1 per 100,000 population. For perspective, there were 501 fatalities on Maryland’s roads in 2018, which corresponds to a fatality rate of 8.29 per 100,000 people. Nationwide, the fatality rate balloons to 11.17 per 100,000 as there were a total of 36,560 deaths on US roads – a staggering 100 people PER DAY!
To address safety on Maryland roadways, the Department of Transportation has developed the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). This document provides a structured approach in a coordinated, comprehensive manner with the overall objective to reduce fatal crashes and serious injury crashes on all public roadways. It establishes overall goals as well as objectives and strategies within each of six key emphasis areas which include:
- Aggressive Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Impaired Driving
- Occupant Protection
- Highway Infrastructure
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
The SHSP has evolved significantly since its first publication in 2003. Multiple national initiatives have been incorporated into the document throughout its updated versions for more consistency on a federal level. In addition, focus areas have become more refined to incorporate current trends which can change significantly over time. An updated SHSP is scheduled for release by 2021.
Results of the implementation of the SHSP are clearly positive. Most recently, the total number of fatalities on Maryland’s roads in 2018 decreased for the first time since 2014.
Our next blog will detail the individual emphasis areas and the different strategies being employed to reduce crashes.