The Maryland State Police is partnering with the Maryland Department of Transportation to launch a tough new speed enforcement blitz for Maryland under the ADAPT Initiative. “ADAPT means Aggressive Drivers Are Public Threats.” The intensified enforcement effort against speeding drivers underscores the severity of the problem, both locally and across the nation.

“Speeding translates to death on our roadways. It greatly reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve. Speeding drivers put themselves, their passengers and other drivers at tremendous risk,” said Lieutenant Krystle Rossignol.

In 2017, speeding was a contributing factor in 26 percent of all fatal crashes in the U.S. and more than 9,700 lives were lost in such crashes, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“During the ‘Aggressive Drivers are Public Threats’ enforcement wave, Maryland law enforcement officers will stop and ticket anyone caught speeding – especially where most of our speed-related crashes occur,” said [spokesperson]. “Our goal is to save lives, and we’re putting all drivers on alert. The posted speed limit IS THE LAW. No more warnings and no more excuses.”

Seventeen percent of all speeding-related traffic fatalities occurred on local roads – where the posted speed limits were 55 miles per hour or under. According to NHTSA, a crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph and nearly five times as likely as a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below. About 15 percent of the country’s speeding-related fatalities occur on interstate highways each year. NHTSA considers a crash speeding-related if the driver was charged with exceeding the posted speed limit or if the driver was driving too fast for conditions at the time.

“Driving above the posted speed limit or speeding in bad weather conditions dramatically increases the probability that a motorist will be involved in a crash,” added Lieutenant Krystle Rossignol. “We remind all drivers that speeding IS aggressive driving and speeding WILL slow you down.”

Speeding is more than breaking the law. It also causes:

• Greater potential for loss of vehicle control
• Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment
• Increased stopping distance
• Increased crash severity
• Increased fuel consumption and cost
• Economic and physical implications as a result of a
speed-related crash

To learn more about Aggressive Drivers Are Public Threats, known as ADAPT, visit TowardZeroDeathsMD.com