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and Networks (CVISN). CVISN is an electronic information exchange
infrastructure being tested in Maryland that reduces the time and
paperwork faced by truckers conducting required transactions such as tax
payment and inspections.
The Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) has a number of technology
initiatives underway to reduce the need to visit an office to conduct
business. For example, the Electronic Registration and Titling System
allow car dealers and fleet managers to electronically process title and
registration applications and issue license plates and stickers. Twelve
percent of title transactions are now handled in this manner. MVA has
placed self-service Access Maryland kiosks at 11 locations statewide,
allowing customers to register their cars instantly and will soon allow
vehicles to be registered through the Internet.
How Technology is addressed in the 1999 Maryland Transportation Plan.
Several of the Plan elements contain policies that specifically point to
technology as a source for implementing the Plan's goals:
MDOT will use technology to meet freight travel safety and efficiency
needs. (Freight Element)
MDOT will use technology to increase the effective capacity of the
urban, suburban and rural transportation networks with incident
management and traffic control technology. (Regional Transportation
Element)
MDOT will use technology to make transit more attractive and
efficient, including universal farecards, or "smart cards," and
automatic vehicle locator systems to provide "real time" management of
the bus fleet. (Regional Transportation Element)
Although most of the Plan elements do not specify technology as a means
to their implementation, MDOT assumes that as technology is developed to
meet transportation needs, it will be used to meet the goals and
policies of the MTP.
The MTP and Safety
A commitment to a safe network goes back to Maryland's earliest
transportation programs. Facility design and maintenance as well as user
training and enforcement are constantly evaluated and improved to
respond to new needs.
Highway Safety.
Maryland's traffic fatality rate has been on a steady downward trend
since 1968, even while vehicle miles of travel have been increasing
every year. While this trend is encouraging there is still room for
improvement. SHA’s Office of Traffic and Safety is involved in several
extensive collaborative traffic safety efforts aimed at reducing traffic
fatalities and injuries. These efforts involve Federal, State and local
agencies.
To make Maryland's highways safer, several programs or emphasis areas
have been implemented and will be continued. The efforts involve
coordinated activities with all levels of government, community based
groups, non-profit organizations and the private sector. It is an
evolving process with the flexibility to respond to changing
circumstances. As problems are identified and analyzed effective
countermeasures will be developed and implemented.
Alcohol and Other Drugs.
There has been a downward trend in alcohol related fatalities over the
past several years and the efforts used to achieve this reduction will
be continued and intensified. Through diligent law enforcement, stricter
laws (including support for lowering the blood-alcohol content level for
per se driving while intoxicated to .08), substance abuse education and
treatment programs, the use of state-of-the-art breath testing devices
and advanced drug recognition training by law enforcement officers it is
anticipated that this reduction in injuries and fatalities will continue.
Police Traffic Services.
The Maryland State Police in conjunction with MDOT will continue to
focus on programs that are designed to reduce alcohol-related crashes,
increase seatbelt use, enforce all "rules of the road" and enhance
enforcement and engineering initiatives. New initiatives such as
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