Working Toward Safer Roads in Maryland: Highlights from the 2025 SafeRoadsMD Annual Board Meeting

The Maryland Coalition for Roadway Safety (SafeRoadsMD) recently held its annual meeting at the Maryland Transportation Authority Police offices in Laurel. Community advocates, law enforcement partners, and traffic safety leaders came together with a shared mission: reducing roadway deaths in Maryland to zero.

(L-R), SafeRoadsMD Board of Directors John Seng, Ragina Ali, Ron Weiss, Rev. Dr. Robert Screen, Kenniss Henry, John Becker and ICC Commander Lt. Kerry Williams.

Here are some of the key updates and initiatives that Maryland residents will want to know about:

Stronger Traffic Safety Laws

Over the past year, SafeRoadsMD members played a major role in moving important legislation forward:

• The Sergeant Kepp Bill (SB 590): Increases penalties for negligent and aggressive driving statewide.

• Route 210 Graduated Fines (HB 349): A first-of-its-kind law in the U.S. that sets higher fines depending on how far above the speed limit drivers go, ranging from $40 to $425. Route 210 has seen nearly 100 fatalities in less than two decades, and upgraded cameras went live in July 2024 to help address the problem.

• Stop Sign Cameras: Pilot programs in Takoma Park and Baltimore are showing promise. Advocates are pushing to expand this technology across Maryland to keep neighborhoods safer.

• Noise Cameras: Approved in Montgomery County to cut down on dangerous, aggressive driving tied to excessive vehicle noise.

  
  

Technology and Innovation in Road Safety

The coalition continues to explore partnerships with safety technology companies ranging from advanced speed cameras to dash cameras to make Maryland’s roads safer. These partnerships could help accelerate the rollout of tools that save lives and support fair enforcement.

Putting People First

One theme echoed throughout the meeting was the power of personal stories. Board members emphasized the importance of crash victim families in shaping stronger advocacy. Hearing directly from those who’ve lost loved ones keeps policymakers and the public focused on the human cost of unsafe driving.

Growing the Movement

SafeRoadsMD is looking to expand its community reach and impact in several ways:

• Legislative Relationships: Cultivate champions and maintain bipartisan outreach.

• Media Engagement: Increase visibility through local and statewide coverage, highlighting victim stories.

• Fall 2025 Mini-Convention: Plans are underway for a statewide gathering of advocates, giving more Marylanders a chance to get involved.

• Safe Driver Maryland Pledge: A new initiative encouraging elected officials and community leaders to publicly commit to safe driving habits.

• Recruiting New Advocates: By 2026, the coalition hopes to significantly grow its grassroots base (250 new advocates), prioritizing diverse voices from across the state.

• Data-Driven Advocacy: Use crash and enforcement data to back proposals.

How You Can Help

• Stay informed about traffic safety legislation.

• Follow SafeRoadsMD on Facebook or Twitter.

• Share your own experiences and stories.

• Sign the Safe Driver Pledge.

• Donate online to support our organizing and legislative work.

Together, we can work toward a future where every Marylander gets home safely.