APRIL 23, 2025
More than 48,000 citations were issued by the Maryland Safe Zones Automated Speed Enforcement system in the first two months of expanded speed monitoring, according to Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials.
23 of these citations were at the $1,000 level, which means the vehicle was traveling more than 40 miles per hour above the posted speed in a work zone where workers were present.
New rules recommended by the Work Zone Safety Work Group were implemented last year, including allowing speed cameras to be placed in more work zones and increasing the number of cameras in larger work zones. January 1 marked the beginning of a new tiered fine system.
“Reckless driving at high speeds is a dangerous weapon in motion,” Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller said. “Every second of carelessness on the road can steal a lifetime from someone else. Work zone safety is a shared responsibility with each of us choosing to slow down, stay focused, and value every life in the zone.”
This information was released as part of the National Work Zone Awareness Week, which is being put on by Lieutenant Governor Miller, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld, officials from the Maryland State Highway Administration, Maryland State Police, and the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Maryland has an average of 300 active highway construction, maintenance, and utility work zones, and more than 1,000 workers are deployed daily, according to MDOT.
In 2024, there were more than 1,300 work zone crashes in Maryland, MDOT data reveals. Between 2019 to 2023, that number averaged 1,400.
“Protecting the brave men and women who maintain our highways and keep our roads safe for all Marylanders is ingrained in everything we do across the Department,” said Transportation Secretary Wiedefeld. “Thanks to the Moore-Miller Administration’s leadership and support from the General Assembly, the Department is making targeted investments in programs and policies to make our transportation system safer for everyone. We’ll continue to encourage all drivers to slow down, obey the speed limit, and pay attention when they travel through work zones.”
Courtesy/Source: WJLA WDC
