Traffic Deaths In Md. Fell To 66-Year Low Last Year

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Maryland's roads are getting safer. The state announces traffic deaths are the lowest they've been in more than 60 years--but there's still more work to be done.

Meghan McCorkell explains what's behind this positive progress.

While traffic deaths are on the decline, state officials say even one is too many.

Mangled metal on the side of a highway after a collision claims a life. It's the last thing Trooper First Class Charles Tiggett wants to see when he arrives at an accident scene.

"Sometimes it hits closer to home when you have kids and you see a child on the side of the road or anything like that," he said.

Fortunately, he's seeing it far less often. Traffic fatalities here in Maryland are at a 66-year low.

Last year, 442 people in Maryland lost their lives in traffic accidents. That's down from a high of 872 back in 1968.

"That means that the traffic safety efforts that we're talking about today have literally allowed thousands of Marylanders and others who use our roads here to be alive," said Lon Anderson, AAA Mid-Atlantic.

State police have launched several initiatives in the past few years targeting aggressive, distracted and impaired drivers. One of those initiatives--the state's new ENDUI cell phone app.

The app lets motorists report a drunk driver, test their own reaction time if they've been drinking and helps them contact alternate transportation.

"I believe that drivers overall are, in fact, driving more carefully," said Pete Rahn, Maryland Transportation Secretary.

Still, 70 percent of those killed last year were not wearing their seat belt--an issue Trooper Tiggett sees way too much.

"They will save you. Just, some people choose not to wear it," he said.

That's why he's keeping an eye out on the roads.

The good news is more than 92 percent of Marylanders say they do always wear their seat belts.

Last year, state police handed out nearly 8,000 seat belt citations.