MDOT - Maryland Department of Transportation

01/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/16/2025 11:36

Maryland Awarded $13.2 Million to Improve Traffic Safety Data


Highway Safety Office
[email protected]


Federal Grant Will Standardize Interagency Crash Data

GLEN BURNIE, MD (January 16, 2025) - The Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland State Police, and Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) secured $13.2 million over five years in federal funding to upgrade the State's crash reporting system, and streamline the exchange of data across local, state and federal agencies. Maryland was one of 19 states and territories to receive funding from the National Highway Transportation Safety Association's (NHTSA) State Electronic Data Collection (SEDC) grant program.

"Safety is the cornerstone of the Maryland Department of Transportation as we work to bend the curve and rapidly reduce fatal crashes," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. "This federal grant will streamline the data and help the Department make better informed decisions of where safety improvements are most needed."

The SEDC grant program, established within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, supports states in upgrading their crash data systems to enable electronic collection and sharing with NHTSA. The program also aims to help states collect crash data electronically in the field, transfer it to a centralized database and ensure data accuracy through quality control measures.

"We are honored to receive critical funding to modernize Maryland's crash data systems, another key component of our efforts to reach the vision of zero traffic-related deaths and serious injuries," said Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Wes Moore's Highway Safety Representative. "With accurate and timely data, transportation planners can provide better informed analysis to support our emergency responders, law enforcement partners and communities."

The federal grant will help improve the quality of and access to crash data, which will be used by national, state, regional and local users to evaluate traffic safety issues and support countermeasures to help save lives and prevent injuries. Maryland updated its crash report on January 1, 2024, but did not have the resources to update the electronic data transfer process to match this new version. Maryland will allocate the funding to enhance various aspects of its data collection and management, including:

  • Improving the electronic data transfer process.
  • Hiring trainers statewide to provide local law enforcement agencies with additional training on crash data collection.
  • Conducting a comprehensive inventory of traffic records, focusing on all datasets related to motor vehicle crashes.
  • Aligning with the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria, sixth edition.
  • Automating the sharing of emergency medical services (EMS) data with police crash reports.
"While we share the mission to make Maryland safer, we continue to work with our traffic safety partners to reduce injuries and fatalities on our roadways," said Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. "Ensuring the accuracy and accessibility to crash data is an important part of the process of saving lives and improving highway safety."

When Maryland emergency crews respond to a crash, they collect and manage information about the patient's injuries and treatment through the Maryland EMS Data System (eMEDS). MIEMSS aims to improve accuracy by automating the sharing of EMS data with police crash reports. The SEDC grant will provide the information technology resources needed to automate this process, helping to resolve discrepancies and ensure more accurate data.

"Maryland is fortunate to have a robust, multi-disciplined approach to improving highway safety," said Dr. Theodore Delbridge, MD. MPH, Executive Director of MIEMSS. "The SEDC grant funding will strengthen the data links between EMS and law enforcement, enabling more efficient evaluations of important trends and helping to develop meaningful strategies to make our highways safer."

Learn more about the Motor Vehicle Administration's Highway Safety Office by visiting ZeroDeathsMD.gov or on Facebook, X and Instagram at @ZeroDeathsMD.