Making Work Zones Safer for the
Maryland State Highway Administration
Maryland partners with Elovate to reduce speeding and improve safety in work zones, protecting workers and drivers.
About
Maryland State Highway Administration
The Maryland Highway Administration (MHA) is responsible for managing, maintaining, and improving the state’s highway system to ensure safe and efficient transportation.
- Location: United States
- Population: 6.2 million
- Highway system: over 5,200 miles
- Crash & Fatality Data: 500+ traffic-related fatalities annually
- Enforcement Program: Work zone speed enforcement
- Cameras: PoliScan mobile camera system powered by scanning LiDAR
- Duration: 9+ years
The Challenge
Work zones posed a significant safety challenge in Maryland, as they do across the country. With 1,000 fatalities occurring annually in work zones — nearly three per day — the risk to both road workers and drivers is undeniable. Speeding drivers create hazardous conditions, making it difficult for crews to work safely while increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries. Ensuring the safety of workers in these zones became a priority for the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA).
To address this issue, Maryland SHA sought effective ways to reduce speeding in work zones. While increasing police presence was an option, it came with its own risks. Stopping speeders in active work zones could put both officers and workers in danger, as sudden stops and traffic disruptions in high-speed areas could lead to further accidents. A safer and more efficient solution was needed — one that could deter speeding without adding to the risks law enforcement, workers, and motorists would face alike.
Maryland recognized the need for a strategic, technology-driven approach to enforce speed limits without direct intervention. By implementing automated enforcement solutions, such as speed cameras in work zones, the state could monitor and deter speeding effectively by changing driver behavior, improving safety for all without placing additional personnel in harm’s way.
The Solution
Elovate implemented an advanced automated speed enforcement solution to enhance work zone safety by establishing consistent 24/7 monitoring and providing public education and awareness to foster lasting behavior change and safer driving in those areas. As the only U.S. provider of LiDAR scanning technology, Elovate deployed state-of-the-art speed enforcement cameras capable of accurately capturing speeding vehicles in real time. These automated systems monitor up to five lanes of traffic, seamlessly rotating among active work zones to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Beyond enforcement, Elovate’s solution includes a full-service violation processing system, handling everything from customer service and evidence management to court scheduling. Additionally, a targeted public awareness campaign was launched to educate drivers on the importance of work zone safety, reinforcing compliance and reducing speeding incidents. By combining cutting-edge technology with a streamlined enforcement process, Maryland has taken a proactive approach to protecting workers, improving traffic safety, and reducing risks for all road users.
The Result
Elovate’s automated speed enforcement solution has significantly enhanced work zone safety, leading to measurable improvements in speed compliance and crash severity reduction. Since implementation, Maryland has achieved a 100% reduction in mean speeds at enforcement sites, demonstrating the powerful impact of speed cameras in curbing reckless driving.
The likelihood of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph has dropped by 62%, highlighting a substantial shift in driver behavior and compliance. Additionally, speed cameras alone have contributed to a 19% reduction in the likelihood of crashes resulting in fatality or serious injury, reinforcing their role in protecting both road crews and motorists.
The program’s effectiveness has earned several endorsements, including from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), further validating its role in protecting lives. In a study highlighting its impact, IIHS President Adrian Lund stated, “Speed cameras get drivers to ease off the accelerator, and crashes are less likely to be deadly at lower speeds. This study connects the dots to show that speed cameras save lives.” By leveraging cutting-edge technology and a comprehensive enforcement strategy, Maryland has set a new standard for work zone safety, proving that automated solutions can drive meaningful, long-term change.
REDUCTION
in the likelihood that a crash would result in a fatal injury
DECREASE
in speeding violations over 10 mph
DROP
in mean speeds
Source: Federal Highway Administration
“The success of Maryland’s work zone enforcement program is a testament to the power of technology in improving safety. By significantly reducing speeding violations, we’ve made great strides in protecting road workers and drivers alike. Our automated solution provides a safer, more efficient way to enforce speed limits without putting officers at risk, and it’s been rewarding to see the positive impact it’s had on road safety.”
Todd Redmond — Director of Customer Care at Elovate