MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — While national trends show fewer people killed on the road in 2023, in Maryland, the roads were more deadly.
Fatalities were up 6% from 2022 to 600 roadway deaths statewide – the most in nearly 20 years.
"What stands out to me is how the floodwaters can rise like this and the fear amongst the public hasn't kept pace," said John Seng, who runs the nonprofit advocacy group the Maryland Coalition for Roadway Safety.
Seng said it is no surprise that of the 600 deaths, the state of Maryland reports more than a third involved distracted driving.
"I pull up at a stoplight anywhere in Montgomery County where I live or really anywhere in the state of Maryland where I drive, you see the cellphones are right there," he said of distracted drivers.
Also in the year-end stats: 15 cyclists, 79 motorcyclist, and 153 pedestrians were all killed on Maryland roads last year.
Seng says these are lives that could easily be saved.
"Make a New Year's resolution to see the end of the year alive," he said, by obeying the speed limit, driving sober or calling for a ride, and by not driving distracted. "And if you're a passenger in a vehicle where the driver's distracted, have the courage to speak up selfishly for yourself and other passengers. If you can do that, we can make this number from 600 go down."
Seng said when his group goes to Annapolis to advocate for tougher road safety laws, they find it's an uphill battle. He says road safety is not yet the priority it should be in Maryland.
He warned, "There is already catastrophe upon us in the state of Maryland."