Maryland’s overall traffic death toll continues to trail last year’s pace, but motorcyclist fatalities are moving in the opposite direction — with 53 riders killed so far in 2026, already close to the 49 recorded in all of 2025, according to the latest weekly report from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Maryland State Police (MSP).
Between Aug. 17 and Aug. 23, four people died on Maryland roadways. As of Aug. 24, 262 people have lost their lives on the state’s roads this year, compared to 307 at the same point in 2025 — continuing a gap that has held steady for weeks. The year-to-date margin between 2026 and 2025 has run close to 40–45 fewer deaths for over a month: 207 versus 245 in mid-July, 226 versus 271 in late July, 255 versus 296 in mid-August, and now 262 versus 307.
Every fatality category besides motorcyclists is running below last year’s pace: 116 driver deaths so far this year compared to 234 across all of 2025; 37 passenger deaths compared to 83; 50 pedestrian deaths compared to 109; and six bicyclist deaths compared to 10. Motorcyclists are the exception, with more than four months of riding season still ahead of last year’s full-year total.
The figures come as part of MDOT and MSP’s ongoing “Slow the Fast Down” campaign, launched by Gov. Wes Moore on July 7. The initiative followed a year in which Maryland recorded 485 traffic deaths — the first time the state’s annual toll fell below 500 since 2014 — with state officials noting that nearly one-third of fatal crashes statewide involve excessive speed.
As students return to school, officials are also renewing a seasonal reminder: drivers must stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights, unless traveling on the opposite side of a roadway separated by a physical median.
Other safety reminders from this week’s report include sharing the road with pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists; checking twice before changing lanes, since motorcyclists can be harder to see in blind spots; obeying posted speed limits, especially in work zones; moving over or slowing down for vehicles with flashing lights; avoiding distractions such as phones; never driving impaired; wearing seat belts in every seat; avoiding aggressive driving; and keeping an emergency kit on hand for roadside breakdowns. In the event of a flat tire, officials urge drivers to prioritize pulling off the roadway safely and calling for roadside assistance over changing the tire themselves.
MDOT officials say the data is preliminary and subject to change as investigations continue. More information on the state’s road-safety efforts is available at ZeroDeathsMD.gov or on social media at @ZeroDeathsMD.
