Thirty-nine people lost their lives on Maryland roads in September, including 13 pedestrians, three bicyclists and five motorcyclists, according to preliminary state data. That toll marks a notable improvement from a year earlier.
Maryland transportation officials reported that motor vehicle crash deaths declined year-over-year in September, as reported by CBS Baltimore. Per the Maryland Vehicle Administration release, the state recorded 39 motor vehicle crash deaths in September, and compared to September 2025, 15 fewer lives were lost, according to thebaynet.com.
Among the dead were the 13 pedestrians, three bicyclists and five motorcyclists who made up a significant share of September's fatalities, the outlet reported. Those groups accounted for 21 of September's 39 fatalities.
A Shift in How the State Reports Fatal Crashes
The update also comes alongside a change in how Maryland shares this information with the public. Beginning in September, the state's fatal crash updates transitioned from a weekly to a monthly schedule, according to the same report from thebaynet.com. Officials have cautioned that the fatality figures are preliminary and subject to change as investigations continue, per the same account.
The Maryland Department of Transportation said the year-over-year trend is encouraging and the department remains focused on sustaining progress toward zero roadway deaths. That goal has been a consistent refrain from state officials even as monthly numbers fluctuate.
Year-to-Date Numbers Show Broader Decline
So far in 2026, Maryland has recorded 322 reported crash fatalities, according to the MVA, down from 382 at the same point in 2025 — 60 fewer reported fatalities. That year-to-date drop lines up with other figures tracked earlier in the year: as of September 7, Maryland had recorded 290 roadway deaths, compared with 332 at the same point in 2025, a decrease of approximately 13%, according to smnewsnet.com.
The summer travel season also showed improvement. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, often referred to as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” 136 people were killed in crashes on Maryland roadways, compared with 152 during the same period in 2025, the outlet noted. Through August, only one month in 2026 recorded more roadway fatalities than the same month in 2025, per the same source.
The Motor Vehicle Administration urged motorists to make safe choices behind the wheel during the busy fall season, as daylight hours shorten. State officials have not detailed what is driving the year-over-year decline, and the data released so far does not include a county-by-county breakdown of September's fatalities.
