Maryland transportation and law enforcement officials are renewing their call for motorists to slow down as the summer travel season continues, releasing new crash data that shows one category of roadway death is already running well ahead of last year’s pace.
Eight people died in crashes across Maryland between Aug. 10 and Aug. 16, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland State Police. As of Aug. 17, 255 people have died on the state’s roads so far this year, down from 296 recorded at the same point in 2025 — a roughly 14% decline that continues a trend seen throughout the summer. In mid-July, the year-to-date total stood at 207, compared with 245 at the same point last year, officials said.
One figure stands out in the state’s preliminary breakdown, however: 49 motorcyclists have died on Maryland roads so far in 2026, already matching the full-year total for all of 2025, with more than four months still remaining in the year. By contrast, every other category tracked by the state is running behind last year’s full-year toll — drivers (114 so far in 2026 versus 234 for all of 2025), passengers (37 versus 83), pedestrians (49 versus 109) and bicyclists (6 versus 10). Officials caution that the data is preliminary and subject to change as investigations continue.
The renewed safety push comes about six weeks into “Slow the Fast Down,” a statewide campaign Gov. Wes Moore launched in early July to build on a two-year decline in traffic deaths. Maryland recorded 485 roadway fatalities in 2025, the first time the state’s annual toll fell below 500 since 2014, though officials have said the ultimate goal remains zero deaths. Speeding is a factor in roughly a third of the state’s fatal crashes, according to state transportation officials, and even modest increases in speed sharply raise the odds that a pedestrian or bicyclist struck by a vehicle will be killed. State police had already issued more than 4,600 citations for drivers exceeding limits by 30 mph or more as of early July, according to Col. Michael Jackson, the Maryland State Police superintendent.
Officials are asking drivers to take several precautions during the remainder of the summer travel season. Motorists should keep vehicles in good working order and carry an emergency kit in case of roadside trouble; if a tire goes flat, drivers should prioritize pulling safely off the roadway and calling for assistance over changing the tire themselves. Because motorcyclists can be difficult to spot, particularly in blind spots, officials urge drivers to look twice before changing lanes or turning, and to share the road generally with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Other reminders include obeying posted speed limits, especially through work zones; moving over or slowing down for any vehicle with flashing lights; avoiding phones, passengers and other distractions behind the wheel; never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; wearing seat belts in every seat on every trip; and avoiding aggressive driving by allowing extra time to reach a destination.
More information on Maryland’s traffic safety programs, including the Highway Safety Office’s ongoing work toward its zero-fatalities goal, is available at ZeroDeathsMD.gov or through @ZeroDeathsMD on Facebook, X and Instagram.
