200 miles of highway per year. In fact, during the past three and
one-half years the Commission has constructed or modernized ap-
proximately 640 miles of road in a program that has touched every
region of the State. This is an impressive record — a record of which
all of us can be proud and an example of government living up to
its responsibility to provide roadways on which the need of the people
for mobility can be realized. We want to keep up this work. We
want to continue to discharge our responsibilities to the people of
Maryland.

To meet the demands for highways—the demands of today and
tomorrow—the General Assembly must take action at this session.
Without such action, the highway construction program, as we know
it today, cannot continue. Without it, Maryland will be limited to
only that construction which qualifies for Federal aid. I am sure
the people of Maryland want no halt in the program of road con-
struction. A detailed plan for the continuation of the highway pro-
gram will be presented to you at this session. Among other things,
it will provide funds for building $421, 283, 000 worth of highways
over the next six years. It calls for an increase in the gasoline and
titling taxes to aid in financing this six-year program. Later in the
session, the State Roads Commission will submit to you a plan
showing on what projects these funds would be used. With the know-
ledge that we must keep up with the changing times, in road building
as elsewhere, I urge you to give this plan your most careful considera-
tion with the view to action at this session.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

The highway traffic problem touches every man, woman and child
in the State. Its many facets contribute to its complexity. And we
can be sure that it is a problem that will remain with us for a long
time to come. For the second year in a row, Maryland experienced
in 1963 more than 590 highways deaths. This is 10 per cent above
the previous ten-year average. The number of accidents and injuries
likewise have increased. With a continuously increasing population,
motor vehicle registration, road-mileage and traffic volume, it appears
that the problems associated with the automobile are growing faster
than our capability to deal with them. Over the past four years the
population has increased 15 per cent. Registrations are up 18 per
cent and vehicle miles up 25 per cent. I am certain that until there
is an all-out effort on the part of all agencies having a responsibility
in this matter, coupled with a public awareness of the problem and

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