(November 8, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration and Maryland Transportation Authority are hosting Thank a Safety Responder Day, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, November 16. The free, family-friendly, outdoor event will take place at the State Highway’s Hanover Complex, 7491 Connelley Drive.
The public is invited to attend and meet some of Maryland’s first-line crash responder heroes, including members of State Highway Administration’s Coordinated Highways Action Response Team (CHART) and explore their vehicles and equipment. The event will commemorate the start of
Crash Responder Safety Week in Maryland, November 18-22, proclaimed by Governor Wes Moore. If you’re not able to join the event, we ask you to thank a Safety Responder in your community.
“We’re excited to invite families to meet the heroes who respond to emergencies along Maryland’s roadways” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “Thank a Safety Responder Day is a great way for the community to learn about the important, yet dangerous work our crash responders perform 24/7, while having the opportunity to see firsthand the vehicles and equipment used at crash scenes.”
Activities include:
- meeting and thanking highway crash and first responders,
- exploring crash responder vehicles from fire and rescue, police, towing and transportation — including a helicopter from the Maryland State Police’s Aviation Command Division; and
- visiting inside the State Highway’s Statewide Operations Center that monitors traffic 24/7.
The State Highway Administration will be presenting “Junior Crash Responder” certificates to participating children after meeting with crash responders and learning about their life-saving work. Childrens’ crafts and access to community resources will also be offered. Food and beverages may be purchased from local food trucks that will be in attendance.
Crash Responder Safety Week is celebrated each year to raise awareness of the important role motorists play in keeping traffic incident responders safe as they perform their life-saving work on roadways.
“Stay alert, exercise caution and always be aware of your surroundings when driving near the scene of an emergency,” said Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police. “The safety of our first responders is paramount while they respond to crashes, administer life-saving medical treatment, and manage emergency situations on our highways, answering the urgent calls for help.”
According to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office, first responders and highway workers responded to 110,340 crashes on Maryland roadways in 2023, along with thousands of other incidents such as disabled vehicles and roadway hazards. The State Highway Administration’s emergency responder technicians assist a motorist every 16 minutes and manage traffic at an incident every 22 minutes. It is estimated they prevent up to 446 secondary crashes each year.
Partnering agencies participating in the Thank a Safety Responder Day event include:
- Anne Arundel County Fire Department
- BWI Fire & Rescue Department
- Emergency Responder Institute
- Maryland Department of Transportation
- Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office
- Maryland State Police
- Maryland Transportation Authority
- Maryland Transportation Authority Police.
For more information on roadway safety, visit
zerodeaths.maryland.gov.