Community Outreach

Community outreach offers a variety of educational services to the local community. Members of the Highway Safety Office are available for in-person or virtual presentations on a multitude of topics.

The community outreach section of the Maryland Highway Safety Office is comprised of regional Community Engagement Managers. Each Community Engagement Manager has a region where they serve as a liaison between MHSO, its partners, regional grantees, and local communities. 

Community Engagement Managers work with partners and grantees to develop outreach programs that support Maryland’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan.  Hands-on demonstrations, educational interactive tools, and simulators are part of the outreach team’s support for local safety events. 

Local Strategic Highway Safety Plans  

Local Strategic Highway Safety Plans (LSHSP) and Vision Zero Plans (VZ), can be developed in coordination with the Maryland Highway Safety Office. Local jurisdictions are encouraged to develop their own SHSP that takes on the principles and overall goals of the Maryland SHSP while addressing specific concerns in their jurisdictions. Community Engagement Managers offer support and resources to local jurisdictions that are interested in creating their own plans. 

Learn more about Local Strategic Highway Safety Plans.  

Available Resources

Educational Materials

Hardcopies of educational materials (brochures, flyers, etc.), subject to availability, are available for distribution. Digital versions of handouts can be found in the digital resource center.

Fatal Vision® Goggles

The goggles offer participants of education programs the ability to experience the simulated effects of alcohol intoxication or drowsy/distraction and how it impairs a person’s vision, reaction time, judgment, and balance.

Presentations

Community Engagement Managers are available to present (virtually and in-person) to organizations, community groups, and schools about highway safety emphasis areas - including speed and aggressive driving, impaired driving, distracted driving, occupant protection, proper seat belt, and car seat use, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and older and young driver safety.

Rollover Simulator

A modified pick-up truck has been designed to simulate a vehicle involved in a rollover crash. Crash dummies are placed in a pickup truck with and without seat belts and a rollover crash is simulated.

Safety Events

PRO Managers are available to attend community and school events and provide information to attendees about highway safety emphasis areas - including speed and aggressive driving, impaired driving prevention, distracted driving, occupant protection, proper seat belt, and car seat use, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and older and young driver safety.

Social Media Toolkits

Emphasis area-specific and monthly social media toolkits that include multiple emphasis areas are available for distribution and public use. The toolkits include suggested copy and images.

Table Top Simulator

One Simple Decision® allows students to experience first-hand the dangers and consequences of distracted and impaired driving through interactions with law enforcement officers, judges, ER personnel, and doctors. The program consists of simulation drives, first-person consequence videos, interactive quizzes, and advice from experts known as the Reality Check videos.

Community Engagement Managers

Southern Region, Religious Establishments, and Military Organizations

Calvert County, Charles County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and St. Mary’s County

Michael Bomgardner

Community Engagement Manager

Northern Region and Employer/Business Outreach

Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Cecil County, Harford County, and  Howard County

Julie Kwedar

Community Engagement Manager
Email

Eastern Region and Hospitals/Local Health Departments

Caroline County, Dorchester County, Kent County, Queen Anne’s County, Somerset County, Talbot County, Wicomico County, and Worcester County

Jennifer Gray

Community Engagement Manager
Email

Western Region and Colleges/Universities

Allegany County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Garrett County, and Washington County

Michael Davies

Community Engagement Manager
Email

STRATEGIC HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

We all need to work together to make our goal of zero traffic deaths and injuries a reality. Download your copy of the SHSP today.