Maryland Bill Would Bring AI Speed Cameras to Route 210, Targeting Gaming Drivers

Sixty-six drivers who sped on Indian Head Highway walked away without a ticket because the current camera system only caught four of them. That gap is now the central argument behind a Maryland bill that would bring AI-powered point-to-point speed cameras to Route 210 in Prince George's County, targeting drivers who slow down near a fixed camera and accelerate the moment they pass it.

Ron Weiss, a member of the Route 210 Traffic Safety Committee, cited a test of the technology conducted last year showing 70 drivers would have been cited under a point-to-point system. The existing single-camera setup caught only four of those same drivers.

Unlike traditional speed cameras, which record a driver's speed at one fixed location, the proposed system would use AI to calculate average speed between two cameras positioned along a stretch of the roadway. A driver would receive a ticket if that average exceeded the speed limit by 12 mph or more. Supporters say the approach closes the loophole that allows drivers to "game" current enforcement by briefly tapping the brakes.

Dr. Reverend Robert Screen of the MD 210 Traffic Safety Committee framed the measure in direct terms. "Going a slower speed will save lives, and so that's all we're trying to do," he said. "Certainly it is something that is very much needed here in Prince George's County, particularly here on Indianhead Highway."

Motorcyclist Ernest Perkins, who rides Route 210 regularly, offered an unusually candid endorsement of the proposal. "If you're being honest about it, it's a worthwhile thing to do because — I'll admit, I've done it myself. So it's a way of enforcing the law and keeping people honest," Perkins said.

The push comes as Route 210, which runs through Fort Washington and connects Prince George's County to the Capital Beltway corridor, has earned a grim reputation. Dozens of people have died in crashes along the road over the years, and safety advocates have repeatedly called it the "highway of death."

Not everyone welcomes the proposal. Driver Tracie Harris said she suspects the county's motivations extend beyond public safety. "I understand the safety perspective, but as far as them trying to give you tickets in between times, that's ludicrous. I just feel like Prince George's County wants more money. I think the only thing we can do is just slow down as drivers, but as far as implementing a second camera to get, no, that's too much," Harris said.

The bill has not yet cleared a committee vote. If it advances and passes, the cameras could go into effect on Oct. 1 under the legislation's current timeline. The Route 210 Traffic Safety Committee is backing the measure as a pilot program, though the number of camera pairs, specific placement along the corridor, and program duration have not been publicly detailed.