This week, Maryland is partaking in the National Work Zone Awareness Week, with officials spreading word of staying alert and aware in and around work zones. A work zone is where active construction is being done, in which case there are often more people in the street as well as heavy machinery in the area, sometimes in the street as well.
Reckless driving is an issue in Maryland and has been one since 2023. State leaders have made many efforts since the early months of that year to encourage safe driving. In March of 2023, an accident occurred that resulted in six construction workers’ deaths. In this accident, two cars were driving over 100 miles per hour and collided in the work zone. This is what National Work Zone Awareness Week hopes to prevent.
In the first two months of 2025, 48,000 citations were issued for reckless driving in work zones.
Maryland’s reports of 48,000 citations for reckless driving in just January and February was far higher than they hoped it would be. These citations were issued for reckless driving in just 10 work zones throughout the state. Some of the drivers are reported to have been driving at speeds higher than 130 miles per hour. These drivers were going through the Baltimore Beltway.
Maryland officials have said that, on average, there are 300 active work zones throughout the state per day.
This stat is accompanied by an estimated 1,000 workers present throughout the 300 active work zones. Around 250 dangerous crashes have occurred at work zones so far in 2025.
The Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, Aruna Miller, is leading projects to make roads safer. Construction workers and other workers present in work zones are essential to continuing to grow and improve the infrastructure of the state. Having them feel safe at their place of work is a top priority for Miller. Miller described work zone workers as “the people whose lives depend on the choices you and I make behind the wheel.”
Today is “Go Orange Day” in Maryland.
“Go Orange Day” is a part of the Work Zone Awareness Week celebration in Maryland. It encourages people to wear orange in order to show their support for work zone workers. The week of awareness promotion runs through to Friday, April 25.
With the awareness project, Maryland reminds drivers that major projects can be found online.
The Maryland State Highway Administration’s websites lists major projects that will create work zones. They make it easy for drivers to be aware of work zones around the state before they even get behind the wheel. Furthermore, one can call MD 511 and receive news and updates regarding traffic around work zones.
Even though it may seem Maryland has cracked down on work zone recklessness, they plan to strengthen their enforcement. As a part of this, fines were increased back in January. The highest fine a person could face is $1,000.
