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Montgomery County has an ambitious goal to end traffic deaths by 2030, and the county says they are making progress toward that goal.

The new annual report on their “Vision Zero Initiative” showed between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, serious and deadly crashes dropped 11% compared to pre-COVID years. There was a significant 28% reduction on high injury network corridors, where the county prioritized safety projects. Those are the stretches of road with the highest concentration of collisions.

“We need our streets to work for everyone whether walking, biking, using an assistive device or driving,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said in a news release.

One of the priorities in Montgomery County was making it safer to cross the street. Four traffic signals and four pedestrian hybrid beacons were installed at crosswalks. Law enforcement also focused on speeding and impaired driving, issuing 15,795 traffic stops for excessive speeding during that time. The county invested in bikeway projects, new sidewalk construction, and community outreach.

According to Maryland Department of Transportation’s fatal crash dashboard, there have been 43 deadly crashes in Montgomery County so far this year, compared to 45 in 2023 and 45 in 2022.

Drivers are reminded to do their part to keep the roads safe by putting away their phones, buckling up, obeying the speed limit, and never driving while impaired.