Maryland is running ahead of last year when it comes to the number of traffic fatalities. State transportation officials say there have been nearly 500 highway deaths so far this year, a 12-percent increase compared to the same time in 2022. At the current rate, Maryland is on pace to record more than 600 deadly crashes in a year for the first time since 2007. M-DOT is urging Marylanders to rededicate themselves to safety on the road.