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Motorists across Maryland may see an increased police presence around highway work zones as part of an effort to increase safety.
Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced the increased presence of both state and local police on the same day the state Work Zone Safety Work Group released more than a dozen recommendations, which include increased fines for motorists to reduce crashes and fatalities.
鈥淭hese recommendations, they鈥檒l save lives,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淎nd we have no time to spare in order to make sure that these recommendations are actually actionable. And it鈥檚 in that spirit that I鈥檓 proud to announce that we鈥檒l begin implementing a few of these recommendations starting right now.鈥�
In addition to an increased police presence, Moore ordered the State Highway Administration to spend $500,000 on work zone safety commercials. He said the state will also work with the Maryland State Department of Education to implement a similar campaign in public schools.
鈥淣ow, everything that I just mentioned is just about changing culture. That doesn鈥檛 happen overnight,鈥� said Moore. 鈥淎nd I also know this changing culture is also going to require changes of Maryland drivers.鈥�
The 15 recommendations issued will require some budgetary, regulatory, and legislative changes.
Included in those is a recommendation to increase fines for violations in work zones and increase use of speed cameras.
Currently, the state issues $40 tickets with no points to motorists who exceed the posted speed limit by 12 mph or more.
Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D), a transportation engineer who chaired the work group, said the fines are the lowest in the nation.
鈥淚n Texas, speeding in work zones can be up to $1,000,鈥� Miller said.
The recommendations do not include new fine levels.
Currently there are about 300 work zones around the state. Moore declined to say how many cameras would be used in a ramped-up enforcement effort.
The increased penalties will require legislative approval. Money generated by tickets would be used for road safety programs.
Moore said he will bring the recommendation to the General Assembly next year as part of his legislative agenda.
Other recommendations included increased education and public awareness campaigns, a work zone safety mascot, buffer lanes and increased work zone inspections.
Maryland is on pace to record upward of聽聽this year. It鈥檚 a mark not reached in the state in nearly 20 years.
鈥淲e know it鈥檚 the same causes of crashes and fatalities year after year,鈥� said Christine Nizer, administrator at the Maryland Vehicle Administration.
鈥淭here was a time when it was common, maybe wave as a driver let you in, thank them for their courtesy,鈥� Nizer said. 鈥淯nfortunately, we don鈥檛 see that. We see more aggression, we see more speed. We see that dangerous behavior, and that includes relating to our pedestrians and certainly our work zone workers. We hope that we鈥檝e hit the pinnacle 鈥� and that all of us can commit to that culture of safety and go back to being respectful to one another.鈥�
Included in this year鈥檚 soaring fatality figure is a crash in western Baltimore County along I-695 that聽killed six workers, including a father and son.
Maryland鈥檚 Occupational Safety and Health Office聽聽with a 鈥渟erious violation鈥� related to the fatal crash.
罢丑别听report noted a failure聽to place the signs near the work zone exposed workers to being struck by passing vehicles.
The work zone panel was created following that crash.
