REPORTER STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS WILL SOON BE DEPLOYING DRONES TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF WORK ZONES. MEANWHILE, STATE LAWMAKERS ARE MAKING BIG POLICY ADJUSTMENTS TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF DRIVERS ON FRIDAY, STATE OFFICIALS JOINED MDOT MANAGERS FOR MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE SIX HIGHWAY WORKERS KILLED, EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO. TRANSPORT OFFICIALS ALSO REQUESTED A MOMENT OF SILENCE DURING THE NOON HOUR AT ALL STATE HIGHWAY OFFICES. WE ASKED EVERYONE, UM, TO PAUSE, REFLECT ON THE RESPONSE ABILITIES OF OF OUR JOBS. UM, IN WORK ZONES FOR THOSE IN OUR INDUSTRY. UM, AND REMEMBER AND TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THE FAMILIES AND COWORKERS. SIX WORKERS DIED AFTER A SPEEDING VEHICLE CRASHED THROUGH A GAP IN A BARRIER WALL AT THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION SITE ON I 695. SINCE THEN, STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS PUT IN ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE. THIS INCLUDES ADJACENT ROAD CLOSURES, NEW TRAINING, HAAS TECHNOLOGY TO ALERT DRIVERS THROUGH PHONE APPS OF CONSTRUCTION AHEAD. THEY’RE ALSO NOW USING AUTOMATED FLAGGERS. STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS WILL SOON BE USING DRONES TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES OF WORK ZONES, AND TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO MAKE THEM SAFER. RAISE YOUR HANDS. THE BALTIMORE COUNTY DELEGATION IS PUSHING LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING 16 SPEED CAMERAS FOR I-695. FOUR WOULD BE IN OPERATION AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE REVENUE WOULD GO TOWARD HIGHWAY SAFETY MEASURES. LEGISLATION BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY A WORK ZONE SAFETY GROUP CHAIRED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, IS NOW UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL RAISING, SPEEDING FINES TO $250 FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS. THE MEASURE REQUIRES SIGNAGE DISPLAYING THE DRIVER’S SPEED AND THE SPEED CAMERAS MUST BE MANNED. THE SENATE VERSION, WHICH MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE WORK GROUP PRODUCT, HAS NOT MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE. IT IMPOSES A $290 FINE FOR FIRST OFFENDERS AND UP TO $1,000 FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS. THE MEASURE ALLOWS FOR UNMANNED SPEED CAMERAS. I THINK THEY’LL TRAVEL TOGETHER ONCE THE HOUSE BILL MOVES OVER. I THINK THERE WERE SOME LAST MINUTE NEGOTIATIONS HAPPENING ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFIC DETAILS. SENTENCING FOR ONE OF TWO DRIVERS CHARGED IN THE CRASH IS SET FOR NEXT THURSDAY. THE OTHER DRIVER IS AWAITING TRIAL. REPORTING FR
Memorial service marks one year since 6 killed in I-695 work zone crash
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Updated: 6:21 PM EDT Mar 22, 2024
Maryland leaders are remembering the six people lost in a deadly work zone crash on Interstate 695.Friday, state officials and transportation managers held a memorial service and a moment of silence to honor those killed exactly one year ago.In response to the crash, leaders have worked to implement new high-tech highway safety enhancements. Lawmakers are still working on policy adjustments designed to change driver culture.Drone technology will soon be used to study work zone speed data. Funding comes from a $1.6 million federal grant."It will allow us to use drones to understand the complexities of work zones, and that aerial view can help us take a different point of view and look for additional ways to make them safer," State Highway Administration deputy administrator Teri Soos said.SHA cited: A Maryland Occupational Safety and Health investigation blames the State Highway Administration for violations. What the report found. That deadly crash happened on March 23, 2023, when a speeding vehicle slipped through a gap in a barrier wall at a construction site."We asked everyone to pause, reflect on the responsibilities of our jobs in work zones for those in our industry, and take moments to remember the families of co-workers," Soos said.Additional safety measures implemented over the past year include adjacent road closures, new training, technology to alert drivers of construction ahead and automated flaggers.The Baltimore County delegation is pushing legislation authorizing 16 new speed cameras for I-695. Four would be in operation at any given time. The revenue would go toward roadway safety.Video shows moments before fatal crash: Traffic camera video shows a car clipping another car moments before the crash in the Beltway median House and Senate bills differ a bit. The House bill that passed raises fines to $250, while the Senate bill calls for a $290 fine. The House bill mandates cameras be manned, while the Senate bill allows for unmanned cameras."We've got to do something. Maryland is lagging in this area, and I think we will get it done this year," Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-District 46, said.One of the two drivers charged in the crash pled guilty to manslaughter. Sentencing is March 28. The other driver is still awaiting trial.Remembering the victims: Police identified the construction workers killed in the crash, who were from across Maryland, from Laurel to Frederick, and Union Bridge to Glen Burnie.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland leaders are remembering the six people lost in a deadly work zone crash on Interstate 695.
Friday, state officials and transportation managers held a memorial service and a moment of silence to honor those killed exactly one year ago.
In response to the crash, leaders have worked to implement new high-tech highway safety enhancements. Lawmakers are still working on policy adjustments designed to change driver culture.
Drone technology will soon be used to study work zone speed data. Funding comes from a $1.6 million federal grant.
"It will allow us to use drones to understand the complexities of work zones, and that aerial view can help us take a different point of view and look for additional ways to make them safer," State Highway Administration deputy administrator Teri Soos said.
- SHA cited: A Maryland Occupational Safety and Health investigation blames the State Highway Administration for violations. What the report found.
That deadly crash happened on March 23, 2023, when a speeding vehicle slipped through a gap in a barrier wall at a construction site.
"We asked everyone to pause, reflect on the responsibilities of our jobs in work zones for those in our industry, and take moments to remember the families of co-workers," Soos said.
Additional safety measures implemented over the past year include adjacent road closures, new training, technology to alert drivers of construction ahead and automated flaggers.
The Baltimore County delegation is pushing legislation authorizing 16 new speed cameras for I-695. Four would be in operation at any given time. The revenue would go toward roadway safety.
- Video shows moments before fatal crash: Traffic camera video shows a car clipping another car moments before the crash in the Beltway median
House and Senate bills differ a bit. The House bill that passed raises fines to $250, while the Senate bill calls for a $290 fine. The House bill mandates cameras be manned, while the Senate bill allows for unmanned cameras.
"We've got to do something. Maryland is lagging in this area, and I think we will get it done this year," Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-District 46, said.
One of the two drivers charged in the crash pled guilty to manslaughter. Sentencing is March 28. The other driver is still awaiting trial.
