Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller is helping lead a new statewide effort aimed at making roads safer and eliminating roadway fatalities by 2030. Miller and Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson recently brought together government leaders for the first meeting of the Safer Maryland Coalition.
The new coalition includes 15 state and local government officials who will work together to coordinate transportation safety efforts across Maryland. Rather than relying on a single statewide approach, members are expected to identify specific actions they can take within their own communities and areas of responsibility.
The initiative comes as Maryland continues its push toward an ambitious goal: reaching zero deaths on the state’s roads by 2030. Coalition members will share successful strategies, coordinate projects and policies, and encourage additional local action to address roadway risks.
During the inaugural meeting, Tim Kearns, director of Maryland’s Highway Safety Office, presented an overview of the state’s current transportation safety conditions. Participants also examined existing safety commitments and a Rapid Action Toolbox designed to help government organizations identify practical measures they can implement in their communities.
The coalition builds on transportation safety work undertaken by the administration of Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. Previous efforts included the Maryland Work Zone Safety Work Group, established following the 2023 I-695 work zone crash.
That work contributed to several changes intended to strengthen protections for road workers and motorists. Among them were the Maryland Road Worker Protection Act of 2024, expanded Basic Work Zone Training programs and revised traffic control standards. Maryland officials have also worked with state police on enforcement efforts related to the “Move Over” requirement, which calls on drivers to take precautions around certain stopped emergency and service vehicles.
The newly formed coalition will focus on bringing those types of efforts together while giving transportation safety leaders greater support. Its potential work could include encouraging local governments to adopt stronger safety policies, advancing roadway improvement projects, creating community safety plans and collaborating with stakeholders on enforcement.
For Miller, who is Maryland’s first Indian American lieutenant governor, the initiative adds to her public leadership role on an issue that affects communities across the state. By bringing state and local officials into a coordinated effort, Maryland hopes to turn individual safety commitments into broader action toward its zero-death target.
