Cities gain power as Maryland proposes a bill in favor of shifting archaic road policies. The new proposal suggests that older road rules may have prioritized cars instead of road safety. Legislators are now considering a bill that will possibly reduce speed limits on state roads in city areas. If passed, the legislation will ensure that great control is put on how fast vehicles travel in neighbourhoods and save lives in the process.
Prioritizing speed limits or safety in Maryland?
Although the idea of changing speed limits on state highways seems good, changing speed limits requires thorough investigation. Speed limits are set according to how fast drivers seem to be going, and thus speed limits tend to be more unsafe than cautionary.
In Maryland, safety experts have always felt that certain speed limits in many highly populated regions, specifically in certain towns and cities, may pose a safety concern. According to many safety experts alike, reducing speed limits in these areas could result in a reduction of fatal collisions. However, all decisions regarding improving safety have to be dealt with by state authorities.
A 2024 study by Smart Growth America entitled Dangerous by Design reported a 75% fatality rate in Maryland due to traffic fatalities on state roads. The study immediately caused concern, and hence a law was proposed in favor of reducing the number of traffic fatalities in Maryland.
How will the proposed law address traffic fatalities?
Senate Bill 424, which is called Urban State Highways-Speed Limits-Exceptions, would see a reduction of 5 mph on state-owned roads, specifically in business districts and residential areas. While the reduction proposed may seem minimal, the impact it will have on reducing traffic fatalities could be great.
In this way, cities and towns will be able to request lower speed limits without needing funds for their studies. Despite the optimism, the bill has not yet been approved as law. The legislation made its way through the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on January 31, 2025, but has still not become law. The law, however, does indicate a need for speed limits to change if the issue of fatalities is to be addressed properly.
Ensuring local control of roads rather than state control
If the requirement of a formal study on state roads is removed, cities and towns can immediately address road safety issues without facing any bureaucratic delays. Town and cities will finally be given more authority to ensure they shape policy in favor of safety.
While this may seem like a minor shift, it can work considerably well to save lives. Also, it would signify that local governments can make decisions pertaining to safety on the streets. Maryland is prioritizing safety and is doing so by joining the states that are issuing more severe speeding penalties and relying on cameras to issue speeding fines.
The overall goal of ensuring much safer streets
Maryland Senate Bill 424 is surely being put forward as a result of the increasing death rate due to fatalities on the roads. The law that has yet to be embraced and come into play does work in favor of creating safer streets and ensuring that drivers make smarter decisions on the road. While the law is still being reviewed, it also indicates a bigger shift towards policy changes and ensuring less outdated practices in terms of how safety on the roads is measured and managed.
The focus is on providing empowerment to towns and cities, so that the local governments can gain some power to make decisions that impact citizens driving on their roads. In turn, the proposed law is in favor of promoting safety in Maryland, but it is yet to be seen when this proposal is embraced as law. In New York City, citizens will be saying goodbye to 25 MPH on neighborhood grids with a quiet clause that may change everything.
