Maryland recorded 290 roadway deaths through Sept. 7, a 13% drop from the 332 recorded at the same point in 2025, as state transportation officials marked the end of the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” and shifted their fatal crash reporting from a weekly to a monthly schedule.
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, 136 people were killed on Maryland roads, down from 152 during the same stretch last year. “While Maryland has seen fewer roadway fatalities compared with this time last year, every life lost in a crash is a tragedy that affects families, friends, and communities across our state,” said Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Gov. Wes Moore’s Highway Safety Representative. “Every roadway death is preventable, and we urge all Marylanders to slow down, stay focused, never drive impaired, and make safe choices every time they get behind the wheel.” Through August, only one month in 2026 recorded more fatalities than the same month in 2025, according to MDOT.
The encouraging trend isn’t uniform across every category of road user. Motorcyclist deaths are the one clear exception: 55 riders have died so far in 2026, a total that has already surpassed the 49 motorcyclist deaths recorded across all of 2025 — with nearly four months still remaining in the year. That reversal is notable given that 2025’s motorcyclist fatalities had themselves fallen sharply, by 46%, from 2024. Every other category is tracking below last year’s full-year totals: 135 driver deaths so far in 2026 compared with 234 for all of 2025, 42 passenger deaths compared with 83, 52 pedestrian deaths compared with 109, and 6 bicyclist deaths compared with 10.
During the “100 Deadliest Days” specifically, drivers accounted for 73 of the 136 deaths, followed by motorcyclists (25), pedestrians (19), passengers (18), and bicyclists (1).
MDOT and Maryland State Police issued weekly fatal crash updates throughout the summer; beginning this month, those updates move to a monthly schedule, continuing to provide preliminary fatality figures, year-over-year comparisons, and safety reminders while shifting focus toward broader trends and contributing behaviors.
As the state moves into fall, officials are asking drivers to stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights (except when separated by a physical median), prepare vehicles for roadside emergencies, prioritize personal safety over roadside tire changes, watch carefully for motorcyclists in blind spots, share the road with pedestrians and cyclists, obey posted speed limits — especially in work zones — and move over or slow down for vehicles with flashing lights. Officials also renewed standard reminders against distracted or impaired driving and in favor of seat belt use in every seating position.
