Testimony on HB 256
Vulnerable Road User Protection Act of 2026
House Environment & Transportation Committee

Date: February 10, 2026
Position: SUPPORT

The Coalition for Smarter Growth supports HB 256 Vulnerable Road User Protection Act of 2026. Our organization advocates for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the Washington, DC region to grow and provide opportunities for all. We work extensively in suburban Maryland, focused on Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

The Vulnerable Road User Protection Act will provide a needed data-driven approach to safety that aligns with Maryland’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic deaths. A quarter of Maryland traffic deaths involved people walking or biking. 

Pedestrians in the Washington, DC region are twice as likely to be killed as they were a decade earlier, even after a modest decline in fatalities last year. Prince George’s County, in particular, has one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities in the state, with 97 total traffic deaths last year. Major injuries for pedestrians and bicyclists are also a major concern in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. 

We appreciate the renewed focus of Maryland SHA on safety, including its complete streets policy and its Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP) program. However, Maryland also needs additional automated enforcement as another tool in the toolbox.

We specifically support HB 256 because the proposed legislation:

• Targets high risk areas. By authorizing the State Highway Administration (SHA) and authorized local jurisdictions to use speed monitoring systems in safety corridors, this bill focuses enforcement where it’s needed most – in designated high-risk areas for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Takes a proactive approach to improve safety for vulnerable road users. HB 256 utilizes automated enforcement to prevent collisions before they occur. The Federal Highway Administration reports that fixed camera units can reduce crashes on arterial corridors by up to 54 percent.
• Holds motorists accountable for dangerous driver behavior. HB 256 ensures that drivers who operate at dangerous speeds in critical,

We ask for a favorable report for HB 256 by the committee. Thank you.