Speed is a major contributor to crashes in Maryland. In 2021, of the 561 traffic fatalities in the state, 30 percent (168) were speeding related. Moreover, urban areas in Maryland are particularly at risk as 91 percent of the state’s traffic fatalities occurred in urban areas. In addition to being tragic, the unnecessary deaths resulting from speeding are costly. Maryland incurred $5.9 billion in economic harm, which is equivalent to $956 per resident, due to motor vehicle crashes according to a 2019 analysis. House Bill (HB) 287 will improve safety by permitting the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) to decrease speed limits by five miles per hour (mph) on urban state highways without an engineering or traffic investigation. Advancing this legislation will increase safety and decrease crash risk while curbing related costs in Maryland. Read letter of support here.