GLEN BURNIE, MD – Maryland has been awarded $13.2 million in federal funding over five years to modernize its crash reporting systems and improve the sharing of traffic safety data across local, state, and federal agencies. The funding comes from the National Highway Transportation Safety Association’s (NHTSA) State Electronic Data Collection (SEDC) grant program, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which aims to enhance electronic crash data collection and transfer processes.
Maryland is one of 19 states and territories to receive funding under this program. The grant will help the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Maryland State Police, and the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) advance their shared mission of reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
“Safety is the cornerstone of the Maryland Department of Transportation as we work to bend the curve and rapidly reduce fatal crashes,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “This federal grant will streamline the data and help the Department make better informed decisions of where safety improvements are most needed.”
The SEDC grant program supports states in upgrading their crash data systems to enable electronic data collection in the field, improve data accuracy through quality control measures, and facilitate the seamless sharing of information with NHTSA. Maryland updated its crash reporting format in 2024 but lacked the resources to upgrade the electronic data transfer process to align with the new standards. The grant funding will enable the state to address this gap.
Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Wes Moore’s Highway Safety Representative, emphasized the importance of this modernization effort. “We are honored to receive critical funding to modernize Maryland’s crash data systems, another key component of our efforts to reach the vision of zero traffic-related deaths and serious injuries,” she said. “With accurate and timely data, transportation planners can provide better informed analysis to support our emergency responders, law enforcement partners, and communities.”
Grant-Funded Enhancements
The $13.2 million grant will be used to improve Maryland’s traffic safety data systems through several key initiatives:
- Upgrading the electronic data transfer process to match the updated crash reporting standards.
- Providing statewide training for local law enforcement on crash data collection.
- Conducting a comprehensive inventory of traffic records to ensure completeness and accuracy.
- Aligning with the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria, sixth edition.
- Automating the integration of emergency medical services (EMS) data with police crash reports.
Superintendent of the Maryland State Police Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. noted the importance of accurate crash data in achieving the state’s traffic safety goals. “Ensuring the accuracy and accessibility to crash data is an important part of the process of saving lives and improving highway safety,” he said.
When emergency crews respond to crashes in Maryland, they document patient injuries and treatments using the Maryland EMS Data System (eMEDS). MIEMSS plans to use the grant funding to automate the integration of EMS data with police crash reports, reducing discrepancies and improving data reliability.
“Maryland is fortunate to have a robust, multi-disciplined approach to improving highway safety,” said Dr. Theodore Delbridge, Executive Director of MIEMSS. “The SEDC grant funding will strengthen the data links between EMS and law enforcement, enabling more efficient evaluations of important trends and helping to develop meaningful strategies to make our highways safer.”
The improved crash data systems will benefit a wide range of users, including national, state, regional, and local agencies, by providing the tools needed to identify traffic safety issues and implement targeted countermeasures to prevent injuries and save lives.
For more information about Maryland’s highway safety initiatives, visit ZeroDeathsMD.gov or follow @ZeroDeathsMD on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.
