BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Maryland State Police, and Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) have received a $13.2 million grant to improve the state’s crash reporting system. The five-year grant, from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) State Electronic Data Collection (SEDC) program, will standardize interagency crash data and streamline its exchange across local, state and federal agencies.

The funding is crucial for Maryland’s efforts to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries. “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. The grant will support the electronic collection and sharing of crash data, helping the department make data-driven decisions in prioritizing safety improvements.

Maryland was one of 19 states and territories to receive funding from the SEDC grant program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program aims to modernize crash data systems, enabling states to collect data electronically in the field, transfer it to centralized databases and ensure data accuracy.

“With accurate and timely data, transportation planners can provide better informed analysis to support our emergency responders, law enforcement partners and communities,” said Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer. The grant will be used to enhance various aspects of Maryland’s data collection and management, including improving the electronic data transfer process, providing training for local law enforcement agencies on crash data collection and aligning with the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria, sixth edition.

The automation of EMS data sharing with police crash reports is a significant step toward improving data accuracy and resolving discrepancies. Dr. Theodore Delbridge, executive director of MIEMSS, extolled Maryland’s robust, multidisciplinary approach to improving highway safety. “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.”

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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