MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office Honors 85 Officers as Traffic Safety Specialists

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GLEN BURNIE, MD (April 29, 2026) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office this week honored 85 officers from 33 agencies across the state as Traffic Safety Specialists (TSS), recognizing their commitment to improving roadway safety and preventing crashes across Maryland. Last year, 84 officers received a Level I or Level II designation, and one officer earned the prestigious Level III designation, the highest recognition through the program. 

The statewide TSS program recognizes officers who have demonstrated advanced training, experience and proficiency in traffic safety. The program is a collaborative effort between MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office, the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association and the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association and supports the Department’s Serious About Safety initiative. 

“Every day in Maryland, lives are changed because of decisions made behind the wheel,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Wes Moore’s Highway Safety Representative. “The officers recognized through this program are working to prevent tragedies before they happen, by addressing dangerous behaviors and educating drivers to keep people safe on our roads.” 

Traffic crashes remain one of the leading causes of preventable death and injury. In 2025, 484 people were killed on Maryland roadways, underscoring the continued need for skilled, proactive traffic safety efforts across the state. 

Established in 2008, the program is open to police officers, deputy sheriffs, state troopers and federal law enforcement officers across Maryland. It includes three levels of designation—TSS I, TSS II, and TSS III—each requiring increasing levels of training, performance and demonstrated impact. 

The Level III designation requires completion of an extensive traffic safety project reviewed and approved by the TSS Executive Committee, a panel of current and retired law enforcement professionals. Only five officers have achieved this distinction since the program’s inception. 

More than 1,000 officers statewide have earned a TSS designation since 2008, strengthening Maryland’s collective effort to reduce crashes and save lives. 

Local, state and federal agencies with officers earning a TSS Designation in 2025 are:  

 

For more information about the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office, visit ZeroDeathsMD.gov or follow @ZeroDeathsMD on social media.