A Study of Traffic Fatalities in Maryland: With Special Reference to Montgomery County: Toward Making Our Roads Safer

By Isaac Vodi

This study which covers five years period reveals the mystery and the bizarre nature of collisions and crashes. For example, How could two motorcyclists collide head-on in a broad day light and die? He has recommended 15 Commandments for both motorists and non-motorists to observe.

In Montgomery County, pedestrians and teen drivers fatalities got the most attentionsending policymakers and traffic engineers to work. Driving in America today is overwhelmingrapid population growth, new technologies and equipment in vehicles and over 150 million registered vehicles on the roadways, impact of alcohol and drugs. Over 57,000 under age 18 are licensed each year in Maryland.
Young drivers outnumber, out-crash and die more frequently than any other age group. Driver education and driver improvement programs need new strategies and tactics on traffic safety.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 28, 2010
• ISBN: 9781453503546

Book preview

Abstract

This research study has been an attempt to investigate traffic fatalities in Maryland, with special reference to Montgomery County and also in the nation as a whole. The primary question addressed in this study is: How do we make our roadways safer? How can pedestrians, motorists, truck drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, racers and spectators feel safe? The sub-questions: 1.) What is the history of traffic fatalities in the State of Maryland? 2.) Who are the victims of traffic fatalities in the State of Maryland? 3.) What safety programs have been utilized through these historical years under study? 4.) What improvements are needed to address the problem of traffic fatalities in the State of Maryland? 5.) What programs are specific to the County of Montgomery that will drastically reduce traffic fatalities?

The research design and methodology for this Directed Research Project was conducted using a qualitative research methodology. Numerous readings and analysis of secondary sources of information such as articles, research briefings, related website, magazines, and books were reviewed.

The result of this study revealed that there is definitely a problem with traffic fatalities in the State of Maryland, with special reference to Montgomery County and the nation as a whole. During the five-year period that the study addressed, especially in the County of Montgomery, pedestrian and teenage driver fatalities generated a lot of attention, prompting policymakers, public officials, engineers, community activists, and the general public to address the problem. Today, traffic fatalities have taken on new dimensions due to rapid population growth, new technologies and equipments in vehicles, the increasing number of vehicles on the roadways, and the impact of alcohol and drug on safety—Driving in America has become overwhelming. There are over 150 million registered vehicles in the nation today. Over 57,000 individuals under age 18 are licensed each year in Maryland. Young drivers outnumber, out-crash, and die more frequently than any other age group. Driver education and driver improvement programs need new strategies and tactics to address the safety issues.

In conclusion, the study shows the inherent human weaknesses in operating vehicles—the mystery and the bizarre nature of the collisions and crashes. Most of the fatalities could have been prevented if only vehicle drivers and the involved pedestrians had obeyed the traffic laws. The15 Commandments,—reasons for traffic violations and crashes, have been recommended as a panacea for traffic fatalities.

Acknowledgments

At long last, I have an MBA degree in my pocket! Am I happy? Maybe—because, in my estimation, it has been long overdue. Who deserves the credit? The credit goes to those people around me whose feathers I have ruffled—using my education as an excuse for skipping events for which I was expected to show up! I can’t go, because I’m working on my term paper. Now that this is behind me, I can focus on my service to God, family, church, and the community, which until now could not get my full measure. Thank you to my wife, Gladys, for all her support—teaching, cooking, representation, etc. Thanks are also extended to my adult children—Afi, Mawuli, Ama, and Ami—who had expressed surprise—Daddy is back in school? And their desire to know my grade after each term! So, I had to announce it before they asked. Additional thanks to all of you for the technical support, graphics, and for using the computer skills I had introduced to you for my projects—you made them beautiful!

It has been a long journey. I abandoned my MBA program in winter 1995, with only four courses remaining. The reason I interrupted my program 13 years ago was to pursue a career in Driver Education—teaching people how to drive, through both in-classroom instruction and through outside experiential instruction. With Gladys’ help, we became owners of Riteway Driving School, in two locations—Hyattsville and Beltsville. The job allowed me no room to study, but helped pay our bills and to see our children through college. I am grateful to the Strayer University staff for sending what I thought was junk mail to my home in Lanham, MD, in May 2008. After reading it, I called the Takoma Park Campus. They connected me to Ms. A.C. Terry, in the Admissions office. After I met with her, I signed up for summer 2008 classes—and today, I have a master’s degree! Thank you, Terry!

I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to Prof. Denean Robinson, APA style specialist, Professor Hesh Ansari, and Professor Justin U. Harris, Advisor of Directed Research Project. My thanks also go out to all of the staff who, in one way or the other, assisted me—Dean Bell and his staff, Dr. David Martin, Academic Advisor and his staff for helping me access websites for articles at the Takoma Park Campus, PG County Library Systems, Hyattsville, and the Campus at Millersville, Anne Arundel County, MD.

TABLE OF Contents

Abstract

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction

Review of Related Literature

Historical Perspectives of Traffic Fatalities

Past Safety Programs

Who Are The Victims Of These Traffic Fatalities?

New Safety Measures, Programs and Strategies

Overview of Efficient and Effective Approaches

Introduction, Summary of Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, And 7, Conclusion and Recommendations

References

List of Appendixes

Abbreviations

AAA—American Automobile Association

APA—American Psychological Association

BAC—Blood Alcohol Concentration

BTW—Behind-The-Wheel

COMAR—Code of Maryland Agency Regulations

DC—District of Columbia

DEP—Driver Education Program

DIP—Driver Improvement Program

DUI—Driving Under Influence

DWI—Driving While Intoxicated

GLS—Graduated Licensing System

HTS—Highway Transportation System

ISS—Injury Severity Score

MADD—Mothers Against Drunk Driving

MDOT—Maryland Department of Transportation

MVA—Motor Vehicle Administration

MVA—Motor Vehicle Accidents

NAIC—National Association of Insurance Commissioners

NC—North Carolina

NHTSA—National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NIAAA—National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

PG—Prince George’s

PSC—Points System Conference

QAS—Quality Assurance Supervisor

SWOT Analysis—Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

Introduction

Context of the Problem

Traffic fatalities in the State of Maryland have been on the increase yearly—making safety experts wonder if there would ever be a solution to the problem. Efforts to reduce fatalities have failed to have any significant impact. Each year, over 600 people die in traffic-related crashes. Safety experts agree that it is a major problem—people dying needlessly, especially, teenagers. The future leaders of the State constitute the highest percentage of the fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that teenagers are the victims. Clearly, something drastic has to be done.

Given the circumstances in which teenagers die, the facts indicate that some fatalities result from driver inexperience, that is, their inability to operate the vehicles effectively because they are just learning. Other factors include immaturity or lack of personal restraint and the tendency to act on impulse, take risks, and perform aggressively, especially in the company of other persons (Driver Improvement Program Manual, by MVA). Other factors include resentment of authority—a lack of willingness to accept the traffic laws as they pertain to safe driving habits. Furthermore, distractions constitute a high percentage of crashes—not paying attention to the driving task—for example, using mobile phones and composing text messages while driving—the latest risky behaviors by drivers.

Speed related crashes represent the highest number of the fatalities, prompting the Maryland’s House of Delegates to approve legislation to allow speed cameras at limited locations in Montgomery County, opening the possibility that the state’s largest jurisdiction will join the District and a handful of states that have recently adopted the technology (Synder, 2005). Opponents to the speed cameras argue, There is a real concern about how far we’re going to be going in terms of using cameras instead of police officers, said Del. Gail H. Bates (R-Howard). Adding, And all this [bill] appears to do is garner more money. Proponents say, The technology makes roads safer—a particular concern in Montgomery, where traffic fatalities spiked last year, and where pedestrians killed by automobiles typically account for more deaths in a year than homicides do (Snyder, 2005).

The bill impacts all of us as Marylanders, said another opponent, Minority Whip Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Calvert), adding that, Three hundred and sixty thousand Marylanders who live outside of Montgomery County travel into and through Montgomery County every day (Snyder 2005).

The following news report in the Washington Post paints the real picture of the context of the traffic fatalities problem: Interstate 70 crash kills two on hand for race—Maryland police not sure of circumstances (Jenkins, 6/22/09). A chain-reaction crash in the early morning on June 21, 2009, killed a La Plata man and a Columbia woman who had gotten out of the man’s car to watch a street race on a near-deserted stretch of highway in Baltimore County, Maryland, State Police said. Two Maryland men were severely injured in the crash.

Jonathan Robert Henderson, age 20, and Mary-Kathryn Michele Abernathy, age 21, were in a group of people that had gathered on Interstate 70 just west of the Baltimore city line, authorities said. About 3:00 a.m., they were standing near Henderson’s Acura Integra, parked on the shoulder of westbound I-70, when a Chevrolet Impala struck a Chevrolet Cavalier, also parked on the shoulder, and pushed it into the Acura, police said. The Acura hit Henderson and Abernathy, who were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Police identified the injured men as Donneil Raeburn, age 26, of Pikesville, MD. and Paul Alan Duffy, age 22, of Elkridge. Raeburn was driving the Impala, said Arthur Betts, a state police spokesman. But Betts said it was unclear whether Raeburn was a racer, a spectator who was trying to leave, or someone driving by. He said Duffy was standing near the Cavalier when it was hit by Raeburn’s car.

According to Betts, alcohol might have been a factor in the crash. No charges had been filed, he said. Betts said it was also not known whether the race was in progress when the crash occurred or whether the group was waiting for it to begin. He said investigators did not know how many people had gathered to watch the race, because many had fled by the time authorities arrived.

Street races can draw hundreds of people, typically on weekend nights, and are often held along dark, remote, stretches of road. The events, whose locations are spread by word of mouth, often have a party atmosphere, with participants showing off vehicles built for speed.

Police in the Washington area recently reported a decline in the number of street races since eight people were killed at a race in Accokeek more than 16 months ago. After that crash, law enforcement officials cracked down on street racing by increasing patrols near popular sites, conducting helicopter surveillance, and urging residents