US 40 in Maryland: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 165 fatal crashes on US 40 in Maryland killed 177 people, the 2nd most of 357 numbered roads in Maryland. In 2024 there were 19 fatal crashes and 20 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 7 counties of Maryland. All fatal crashes in Maryland.
Deaths on US 40 in Maryland by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 | 20 |
| 2023 | 24 | 26 |
| 2022 | 15 | 18 |
| 2021 | 22 | 23 |
| 2020 | 16 | 17 |
| 2019 | 13 | 16 |
| 2018 | 19 | 20 |
| 2017 | 16 | 16 |
| 2016 | 10 | 10 |
| 2015 | 11 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 40 in Maryland: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Baltimore County had the most fatal crashes on US 40 from 2015 to 2024: 50, with 51 deaths. Baltimore, Cecil and Harford counties together held 63% of fatal crashes on US 40 in Maryland from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore County | 6 | 50 | 51 |
| 2 | Cecil County | 2 | 27 | 33 |
| 3 | Harford County | 2 | 27 | 27 |
| 4 | Washington County | 1 | 23 | 26 |
| 5 | Baltimore city | 5 | 20 | 21 |
| 6 | Frederick County | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| 7 | Howard County | 2 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 40 in Maryland
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 18 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 10.9 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan11.5%
- Feb3.6%
- Mar7.9%
- Apr4.8%
- May10.9%
- Jun7.3%
- Jul6.7%
- Aug7.9%
- Sep7.3%
- Oct17.0%
- Nov6.7%
- Dec8.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 40 in Maryland first hit
The first harmful event was a pedestrian in 46%; a collision with another vehicle in 35%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 12%, a cyclist in 3.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian | 75 | 46% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 57 | 35% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 19 | 12% |
| Other | 7 | 4.2% |
| Cyclist | 6 | 3.6% |
| Rollover | 1 | 0.6% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on US 40 in Maryland compare with the state
The largest difference from Maryland: from 2015 to 2024, pedestrians were 44% of the dead on US 40 in Maryland, against 23% across Maryland. Also above the Maryland share: intersections and hit-and-runs. Below it: rural roads, drinking drivers and speeding. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Maryland. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 165 crashes.
| US 40 | Maryland | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 3.0% | 19% | below the Maryland share |
| At or near an intersection | 46% | 29% | above the Maryland share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 24% | 24% | about the same as the Maryland share |
| A drinking driver | 15% | 28% | below the Maryland share |
| Speeding | 19% | 26% | below the Maryland share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.1% | 9.6% | about the same as the Maryland share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 39% | 43% | about the same as the Maryland share |
| Hit-and-run | 13% | 7.8% | above the Maryland share |
| A motorcycle involved | 10% | 16% | about the same as the Maryland share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 44% | 23% | above the Maryland share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes on US 40 in Maryland
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 40 in Maryland?
- 165 fatal crashes killed 177 people on US 40 in Maryland from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 19 fatal crashes and 20 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 40 in Maryland do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Baltimore County had the most fatal crashes on US 40 from 2015 to 2024: 50, with 51 deaths. Cecil County was second with 27.
- When do fatal crashes on US 40 in Maryland happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 18 fatal crashes.
Other roads in Maryland with a page
- I-270
- I-695
- I-70
- I-95
- State Highway 2
- State Highway 214
- State Highway 26
- State Highway 295
- State Highway 355
- State Highway 4
- State Highway 450
- State Highway 5
All fatal crashes in Maryland, with every road ranked.
Where the US 40 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 40 in Maryland (filed under 18 spellings, such as "US-40", "US-40 BALT NATIONAL PK", "US-40 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PK", "US-40 BALTIMORE NATL PK"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.