Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Office of Traffic and Safety Driving Safely in Maryland In 2008, there were 141 fatal speeding crashes, accounting for 28% of all fatal crashes in Maryland, a 3% decrease from 2007. Introduction A speed-related crash is defined as any reportable crash in which speed was listed as a contributing factor, whether or not the driver was noted as going over the posted speed limit. The contributing factors include Exceed Speed Limit and Too Fast for Conditions. In 2008, there were 141 fatal speeding crashes, accounting for 28% of all fatal crashes in Maryland, 3% decrease from 2007. A total of 10,024 persons were injured in the 18,105 speeding crashes. Summary Fatal speeding crashes accounted for 28% of all fatal crashes in Maryland. In 2008, 33.7% of the speeding drivers killed were between the ages of 20 and 29. Charles County had the highest crash rate per 100 MVMT (48.65) and Garrett County had the highest crash rate per 10,000 population (71.05). In 2008, 109 of the 163 fatalities (67%) in speed-related crashes occurred among the drivers cited for exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions. Rear End and Fixed Object crashes accounted for 71% of the total speeding crashes, 36.5% and 34.3% respectively. In 2008, nearly one-half (47.5%) of the fatal speeding crashes occurred between the hours of 8PM and 4AM. More than one-half (55.8%) of the speeding vehicle fatal crashes occurred on roads with a posted speed limit of 40 MPH or less. In 2008, 33.7% of the speeding drivers killed were between the ages of 20 and 29. Passenger vehicles (automobile, station wagon, suv, pickup truck and vans) account for 60% of the speeding vehicle involved fatal crashes. Charles County had the highest crash rate per 100 MVMT (48.65) and Garrett County had the highest crash rate per 10,000 population (71.05). Maryland Highway Safety Office 7491 Connelley Drive, Hanover, Maryland 21076
2 Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - Year Table 1: Fatal,, and, 1999-2008 Fatal All Fatal Percent of All Fatal All Percent of All Percent of 1999 137 555 24.7 156 598 26.1 15,236 97,012 15.7 2000 155 574 27.0 173 617 28.0 14,833 99,302 14.9 2001 139 602 23.1 160 662 24.2 14,725 101,411 14.5 2002 155 606 25.6 168 661 25.4 16,139 104,843 15.4 2003 142 574 24.7 156 651 23.9 19,261 109,130 17.6 2004 140 576 24.3 155 643 24.1 17,632 104,103 16.9 2005 158 577 27.4 173 614 28.2 18,714 102,624 18.2 2006 182 593 30.7 203 651 31.2 18,744 101,888 18.4 2007 156 558 28.0 182 615 29.6 19,045 100,943 18.9 2008 151 539 28.0 163 592 27.5 18,105 95,349 19.0 Crash Severity Fatal speeding crashes accounted for 28% of all fatal crashes in Maryland. As compared to 2007 the number of fatal speeding crashes in 2008 decreased by 3%; however, when compared to 1999 the number of fatal speeding crashes has increased by nearly 10%. Fatal speeding crashes accounted for 28% of all fatal crashes in Maryland. Year Table 2: by Severity, 2004-2008 Fatal Injury Number Injured PDO 2004 140 155 6,557 9,950 10,835 17,632 2005 158 173 7,252 11,005 11,304 18,714 2006 182 203 7,228 11,172 11,334 18,744 2007 156 182 7,165 10,789 11,724 19,045 2008 141 163 6734 10024 11230 18,105 Figure 1: and, 1998-2008 20,000 800 15,000 10,000 5,000 600 400 200 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Maryland Highway Safety Office 7491 Connelley Drive, Hanover, Maryland 21076
Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008-3 Fixed object collisions accounted for over one-half (53.9%) of the fatal speeding crashes in Maryland in 2008. In 2008, 60% of the total speeding crashes occurred in daylight whereas 60% of the fatal speeding crashes occurred in the dark. Collision Types Rear End and fixed object crashes accounted for 71% of the total speeding crashes, 36.5% and 34.3% respectively Fixed object collisions accounted for over one-half (53.9%) of the fatal speeding crashes in Maryland in 2008. Table 3: by Collision Type, 2008 Crash Type Fatal Head On 16 11.3 688 3.8 Rear End 16 11.3 6,608 36.5 Left Turn 0 0.0 36 0.2 Sideswipe 1 0.7 571 3.2 Angle 12 8.5 712 3.9 Parked Vehicle 1 0.7 975 5.4 Pedestrian 2 1.4 88 0.5 Animal 0 0.0 44 0.2 Fixed Object 76 53.9 6,218 34.3 Other Object 1 0.7 151 0.8 Overturned 2 1.4 443 2.4 Other Non Collision 0 0.0 68 0.4 Off Road 9 6.4 907 5.0 Other/unknown 5 3.5 596 3.3 Illumination 141 100.0 18,105 100.0 In 2008, 60% of the total speeding crashes occurred in daylight whereas 60% of the fatal speeding crashes occurred in the dark. Table 4: by Illumination, 2008 Illumination Fatal Daylight 51 36.2 10,843 59.9 Dawn / Dusk 5 3.5 937 5.2 Dark Lights On 45 31.9 4,237 23.4 Dark Lights Off 40 28.4 2,017 11.1 Unknown 0 0.0 71 0.4 141 100.0 18,105 100.0
4 Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - In 2008, 74% of the fatal and 51% of the total speeding crashes occurred on dry surfaces. Surface Types In 2008, 74% of the fatal and 51% of the total speeding crashes occurred on dry surfaces. In 2008, 42% of the total and 20% of the fatal speeding crashes occurred on wet surfaces. Table 5: by Surface Type, 2008 Surface Type Fatal Wet 28 19.9 7621 42.1 Dry 104 73.8 9,234 51.0 Snow 4 2.8 381 2.1 Ice 5 3.5 831 4.6 Other / Unknown 0 0.0 38 0.2 141 100.0 18,105 100.0 Over one-half (59.6%) of the fatal speeding crashes occurred on the weekend (Friday Sunday). Temporal Patterns Over one-half (59.6%) of the fatal speeding crashes occurred on the weekend (Friday Sunday). Figure 2: Driving by Day of Week, 2008 Fatal 14.9% 24.1% 20.6% 12.4% 13.2%13.0%14.5% 17.4%17.1% 12.5% 9.2% 7.8% 13.5% 9.9% In 2008, nearly one-half (47.5%) of the fatal speeding crashes occurred between the hours of 8PM and 4AM. Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun In 2008, nearly one-half (47.5%) of the fatal speeding crashes occurred between the hours of 8PM and 4AM. Table 6: by Time of Day, 2008 Fatal Time of Day 12:00AM-03:59AM 37 26.2 1,983 11.0 04:00AM-07:59AM 12 8.5 2,161 11.9 08:00AM-11:59AM 16 11.3 3,016 16.7 12:00PM-03:59PM 17 12.1 3,881 21.4 04:00PM-07:59PM 29 20.6 4,498 24.8 08:00PM-11:59PM 30 21.3 2,565 14.2 Unknown 0 0.0 1 0.0 141 100.0 18,105 100.0
Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008-5 Route Types Fatal and total speeding crashes occurred most frequently on state and county roads. Fatal and total speeding crashes occurred most frequently on state and county roads. Fatal MD, 44, 31.2% Figure 3: by Route Type, 2008 CO, 45, 31.9% MD, 5,479, 30.3% CO, 5,335, 29.5% MU, 520, 2.9% US, 11, 7.8% Others, 2, 1.4% IS, 19, 13.5% Balt. City, 6, 3.8% US, 1,625, 9.0% IS, 3,159, 17.4% Others, 741, 4.1% Balt. City, 1,246, 6.9% Speed Limits In 2008, 58% of the speeding vehicles involved in crashes were on roads with a posted speed limit if 40 MPH or less. More than one-half (55.8%) of the speeding vehicle fatal crashes occurred on roads with a posted speed limit of 40 MPH or less. Table 7: Vehicles Involved in by Posted Speed Limit, 2008 In 2008, 58 % of the speeding vehicles involved in crashes were on roads with a posted speed limit if 40 MPH or less. Posted Speed Vehicle Fatal Vehicle Limits (mph) Number % Number % 25 or less 12 12.6 2,660 14.4 30 13 13.7 2,342 12.7 35 15 15.8 3,217 17.4 40 13 13.7 2,451 13.3 45 8 8.4 1,457 7.9 50 12 12.6 1,401 7.6 55 17 17.9 3,351 18.1 60 0 0.0 82 0.4 65 4 4.2 1020 5.5 Other/ Unknown 1 1.1 514 2.8 95 100.0 18,495 100.0
6 Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - Drivers Involved in In 2008, 33.7% of the speeding drivers killed were between the ages of 20 and 29. The vast majority (88.4%) of the drivers killed in speeding crashes were male. Table 8: Drivers Involved in by Driver Age, 2008 In 2008, 33.7% of the speeding drivers killed were between the ages of 20 and 29. Drivers Involved in Driver Driver Age 15 and Under 0 0.0 56 0.3 16-19 9 9.5 3,223 17.4 20-24 20 21.1 3,539 19.1 25-29 12 12.6 2,449 13.2 30-34 13 13.7 1,603 8.7 35-39 13 13.7 1,374 7.4 40-44 11 11.6 1,240 6.7 45-49 7 7.4 1,061 5.7 50-54 3 3.2 838 4.5 55-59 2 2.1 598 3.2 60-64 2 2.1 424 2.3 65-69 0 0.0 237 1.3 70-79 3 3.2 238 1.3 80 + 0 0.0 116 0.6 Unknown 0 0.0 1,499 8.1 95 100.0 18,495 100.0 Table 9: Drivers Involved in by Driver Gender, 2008 Driver Gender Drivers Involved in Driver Male 84 88.4 11,361 61.4 Female 11 11.6 6,065 32.8 In 36% of the fatal speeding crashes, alcohol and/or drugs were reportedly involved as compared to 6% in all speeding crashes. Unknown 0 0.0 1,069 5.8 95 100.0 18,495 100.0 Alcohol/Drug Impairment In 36% of the fatal speeding crashes, alcohol and/or drugs were reportedly involved as compared to 6% in all speeding crashes. Table 10: by Alcohol/Drug Condition, 2008 Crash Condition Fatal Alcohol 51 36.2 1,161 6.4 Drugs 3 2.1 159 0.9 Both (Alcohol & Drugs) 1 0.7 29 0.2 No 86 61.0 16,756 92.5 141 100.0 18,105 100.0
Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008-7 Vehicle Types Passenger vehicles (automobile, station wagon, suv, pickup truck and vans) account for 60% of the speeding vehicles involved fatal crashes. In 2008, 32.6% of the speeding vehicle fatal crashes were motorcycles. Of the total speeding vehicles involved in crashes, automobiles accounted for 61% of the speeding vehicle total crashes. Passenger vehicles accounted for 60% of the speeding vehicles involved fatal crashes. Table 11: Vehicles in by Vehicle Type, 2008 Vehicle Types Vehicle Fatal Vehicle Motorcycle 31 32.6 438 2.4 Automobile 44 46.3 11,281 61.0 Station Wagon 1 1.1 256 1.4 Limousine 0 0.0 2 0.0 Large Truck 2 2.1 419 2.3 SUV 1 1.1 6 0.0 Farm Vehicle 0 0.0 3 0.0 Bus 0 0.0 55 0.3 Ambulance 0 0.0 7 0.0 Fire Vehicle 0 0.0 18 0.1 Police Vehicle 1 1.1 155 0.8 Moped 2 2.1 32 0.2 Pickup Truck 5 5.3 1,808 9.8 Van 1 1.1 979 5.3 SUV 6 6.3 2,865 15.5 Other/Unknown 1 1.1 171 0.9 Vehicles 95 100.0 18,495 100.0
8 Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - Baltimore and Prince George s Counties had the highest percentage of speeding crashes, 18% and 16% respectively. County Baltimore and Prince George s Counties had the percentage of speeding crashes, 18% and 16% respectively. In 2008, 25% of all fatal speeding crashes occurred in Prince George s County. Somerset County had the lowest crash rates per 100 MVMT (7.96) and per 10,000 population (8.81). Charles County had the highest crash rate per 100 MVMT (48.65) and Garrett County had the highest crash rate per 10,000 population (71.05). Table 12 and Fatal and Rates by County, 2008 Charles County had the highest crash rate per 100 MVMT (48.65) and Garrett County had the highest crash rate per 10,000 population (71.05). Fatal Crash Rate (per 100M VMT) Crash Rate (per 100M VMT) VMT County Fatal % % (mill) Allegany 2 1.4 128 0.7 813 0.25 15.74 Anne Arundel 9 6.4 1,813 10.0 5,759 0.16 31.48 Baltimore 11 7.8 3,219 17.8 8,227 0.13 39.13 Calvert 2 1.4 314 1.7 765 0.26 41.05 Caroline 1 0.7 72 0.4 371 0.27 19.41 Carroll 5 3.5 344 1.9 1,273 0.39 27.02 Cecil 3 2.1 371 2.0 1,351 0.22 27.46 Charles 4 2.8 613 3.4 1,260 0.32 48.65 Dorchester 2 1.4 63 0.3 396 0.51 15.91 Frederick 5 3.5 745 4.1 2,930 0.17 25.43 Garrett 2 1.4 211 1.2 528 0.38 39.96 Harford 6 4.3 799 4.4 2,324 0.26 34.38 Howard 6 4.3 987 5.5 3,793 0.16 26.02 Kent 2 1.4 38 0.2 220 0.91 17.27 Montgomery 7 5.0 2,365 13.1 7,443 0.09 31.77 Prince George's 35 24.8 2,882 15.9 8,719 0.40 33.05 Queen Anne's 1 0.7 139 0.8 924 0.11 15.04 St. Mary's 5 3.5 310 1.7 822 0.61 37.71 Somerset 1 0.7 23 0.1 289 0.35 7.96 Talbot 1 0.7 157 0.9 614 0.16 25.57 Washington 3 2.1 513 2.8 2,055 0.15 24.96 Wicomico 3 2.1 340 1.9 1,008 0.30 33.73 Worcester 3 2.1 120 0.7 644 0.47 18.63 Baltimore City 22 15.6 1,539 8.5 3,619 0.61 42.53 141 100.0 18,105 100.0 56,147 0.25 32.25 1. Source: * Maryland Department of Planning
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Office of Traffic and Safety Maryland Highway Safety Office Driving Safely in Maryland Last Edited on December 2, 2009 Maryland Highway Safety Office 7491 Connelley Drive, Hanover, Maryland 21076