Posted on 04/22/25
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore, MD- April 22, 2025 - In the first two months of Maryland's new tiered fine structure for work zone speed violations, the Maryland Safe Zones Automated Speed Enforcement system issued more than 48,000 citations.
Among these, 23 citations were at the $1,000 level for vehicles traveling over 40 miles per hour above the posted speed limit in active work zones. Notably, one vehicle was recorded traveling at 134 mph on I-695, while another reached 132 mph in similar conditions.
Lieutenant Gov. Aruna Miller emphasized the dangers of reckless driving, stating, "Reckless driving at high speeds is a dangerous weapon in motion. 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."
Preliminary data from Jan. and Feb. was unveiled by Lieutenant Gov. Miller during National Work Zone Awareness Week, which runs from April 21-25. The theme for this year's observance is "Respect the Zone – So We All Get Home."
Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld highlighted the state's commitment to safety, saying, "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."
Gov. Moore has declared April 23 as "Go Orange Day," with Government House in Annapolis to be lit orange. Other events include a Unity Ride procession on April 23, a social media "storm" on April 24, and a moment of silence on April 25 to honor lives lost in work zone crashes.
The new fine structure, part of the Maryland Road Worker Protection Act, took effect on Jan. 1, 2025. It applies to citations from automated speed enforcement systems, with fines doubling when workers are present.
Early data suggests a decrease in citations compared to previous years, indicating that many drivers are slowing down to avoid fines.
State Highway Administrator Will Pines expressed concern over continued speeding, stating, "Early numbers from the automated speed enforcement program that show thousands of people are continuing to speed in our work zones are disturbing and unacceptable."
The National Work Zone Awareness Week is part of Maryland's Work Zone Safety campaign, which launched in 2024 and generated over 68 million impressions in its first year. Officials say this year's campaign will utilize various media platforms and a partnership with the Baltimore Orioles to spread awareness.
For more information, visit roads.maryland.gov and click the Work Zone Safety banner.