Southern Maryland’s commitment to safer roads received a boost with $135,906.95 in federal and state highway safety grants awarded to organizations in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties for Federal Fiscal Year 2026, starting October 1, 2025. Announced on September 8, 2025, by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MVA) Highway Safety Office in Glen Burnie, these funds are part of a $12.9 million federal grant package and $1.4 million in state grants aimed at reducing motor vehicle crashes and achieving Maryland’s Vision Zero goal of zero traffic fatalities by 2030. For Southern Maryland, the grants target critical safety initiatives in a region where rural roads and growing populations demand focused efforts.
In St. Mary’s County, the Sheriff’s Office received $18,500 in federal funds, and the Health Department was awarded $17,356.95 to support traffic safety programs. These grants will fund initiatives like impaired driving prevention, seat belt enforcement, and pedestrian safety education, aligning with the state’s “Four E’s” approach—education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency medical services. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office secured $48,050, while the Town of La Plata Police Department received $5,979, both federal grants, to enhance traffic enforcement and community outreach. Calvert County’s Alliance Against Substance Abuse was allocated $5,819, and the Sheriff’s Office received $37,000 to address issues like distracted driving and child passenger safety. Additionally, the Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, serving parts of Southern Maryland, received $16,176.50 in state funds to promote cyclist safety.
“Saving lives and preventing fatal crashes is our top priority,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle. “While Maryland is seeing a reduction in crash fatalities compared to previous years, even one death is too many.” In 2024, Maryland recorded 582 roadway deaths, including 163 pedestrians, down from 621 in 2023. Southern Maryland’s grants are data-driven, based on local crash statistics, and aim to address these preventable losses. “Every number in our crash data represents a person—a parent, a child, a neighbor,” said Chrissy Nizer, MVA Administrator and Governor Moore’s Highway Safety Representative. “These grant investments allow us to reach communities across Maryland with targeted, data-driven programs.”
The grants support Maryland’s Vision Zero initiative, adopted in 2019, which guides recipients in implementing the 2021-2025 Strategic Highway Safety Plan. In Southern Maryland, where rural routes like Route 5 and Route 235 see frequent traffic, the funds will bolster efforts to reduce aggressive driving, increase seat belt use, and improve traffic data systems. For example, St. Mary’s County’s Sheriff’s Office may use its grant for overtime enforcement, while the Health Department could expand child safety seat programs. Charles County’s Sheriff’s Office, which investigated a fatal UTV crash in Port Tobacco on September 5, 2025, will likely leverage its grant for enhanced patrols and training.
These funds complement other safety efforts, such as the Maryland State Police’s SPIDRE DUI team, which received $295,000 statewide, and the Maryland Highway Safety Office’s $6,076,166.41 for broader initiatives. Southern Maryland’s agencies are poised to make a tangible impact, ensuring safer roads for residents and visitors.
