Letter: Allow Speed Cameras in Prince George’s County

Traffic cameras are more equitable, affordable, and scalable way to enforce traffic safety laws.

You can view this document in PDF form here.

PGC 301-24 – Prince George’s County – Traffic Control Device Monitoring Systems – Authorization

Prince George’s County Delegation

Washington Area Bicyclist Association – FAVORABLE

November 30, 2023

Chair and Members of the Prince George’s County Delegation,

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), an advocacy organization with 1,200 Maryland members, supports bill PGC 301-24, which would authorize the use of traffic control device monitoring systems in Prince George’s County.

We know the terrible toll that reckless and negligent driving has taken on Prince George’s County residents and visitors, including in the November 20 deaths of 5-year-old Sky Sosa and 10-year-old Shalom Mbah, who were hit by a motor vehicle and killed near their elementary school in Riverdale Park. As of November 30, 2023, Prince George’s County has experienced 116 road fatalities including 32 pedestrians and 3 bicyclists. This road carnage must end.

The State of Maryland and Prince George’s County must increase their investments in safe transportation infrastructure and at the same time, we must do all we can to educate drivers and provide an incentive for safe driving, via expanded, appropriate traffic enforcement.

Bill PGC 301-24 would add a safe-streets enforcement tool to the county’s toolbox, by enabling the placement of automated monitoring devices – cameras – for traffic control devices including Stop signs.

We note that automated enforcement is far more equitable – and inexpensive and scalable – than in-person police enforcement, with no potential for dangerous escalation of traffic stops or discrimination against Black and brown drivers.

Please advance PGC 301-24, to promote safe streets, Vision Zero, and equitable enforcement, and in the blessed memories of Sky Sosa and Shalom Mbah.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this legislation.

Seth Grimes, WABA Maryland organizer

seth.grimes@waba.org

More about Maryland Legislation

WABA develops and advocates for state legislation to make bicycling in Maryland safer and more accessible and for state funding to expand Maryland’s bicycle network, working directly with legislators and Maryland Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) leadership and as part of the Bike Maryland coalition. We also work on broader road-safety, transit, and environmental legislation and funding, typically as part of larger statewide coalitions. The annual Maryland legislative session runs from January to April, but our work developing legislation starts the preceding summer.

We’re thrilled that several bills we worked on or supported were enacted in 2024, directing an MDOT Vision Zero Coordinator and public review process; the Better Bus Service Act, allowing bus-lane enforcement cameras (with bikes allowed); authorizing stop-sign cameras near schools in Prince George's County; and the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Memorial Act, addressing penalties for hitting a cyclist in a bike lane.

Our 2024 advocacy included unsuccessful efforts that we will likely pursue in future years. (It often takes years to pass a bill. ) These include a Great Maryland Trails Act, an E-bike Rebate and Voucher Program bill, and a bill addressing maintenance responsibility for sidewalks and bike paths along state roads. Another topic on our list for 2025 is contributory negligence, a prejudicial statute that says that if a crash victim is even only 1% at fault, then they are liable and may not recover (full) costs and damages from the party largely at fault.

More about Laws & Policy

WABA works with grassroots advocates at the local, county and state level to support laws and policies that make it easier and safer to walk, bike, and take transit. And we work to changes ones that make biking less safe, make it harder to build bike infrastructure, or that deprioritize the safety and convenience of people walking, biking, or taking transit.

In practice that means advocating for robust and transformative Vision Zero programs, enforceable Complete Streets policies, and funding for new infrastructure that supports biking, walking and transit.

Other regional legislative priorities include:

Reforming Contributory Negligence (passed in DC, in the works in Maryland and Virginia).
Getting rid of the Level of Service engineering standards in transportation decision-making.
Funding E-bike purchase rebates.

More about Advocacy

WABA fights for a region where biking, walking and transit are the best ways to get around.

We educate policymakers and organize grassroots advocates for to speak up for safer places to bike and walk; and for laws and policies that protect people who are walking and biking, reduce dangerous driving, and facilitate changes to the built environment.