Now through Labor Day, local police will be out in force as part of the annual statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on impaired driving. The crackdown includes high-visibility enforcement throughout Maryland.
Impaired driving is one of the largest traffic safety problems in our region. Every 47 hours, someone in Maryland
dies in an impaired driving crash. Last year in Maryland, impaired driving crashes killed 170 people and injured another 4,019 people. At least one driver in the crash was reported to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Impairment is determined by the driver’s condition, blood alcohol content, substance use and contributing factors on the crash report.
“The efforts of Maryland’s agencies, especially the Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office, are having a positive impact on achieving Maryland’s goal of Toward Zero Deaths. In 2012, deaths from impaired crashes decreased to 34% of the state’s total motor vehicle fatalities, compared to 37% in 2011.
“Impaired driving is a public health issue, a highway safety priority and it’s a crime,” said Cpl. Kevin Meyer.
Between 2008 and 2012, 875 people lost their lives in impaired driving crashes with 74% of the fatalities occurring at night. Being arrested for driving while impaired brings a wide range of negative consequences into one’s life. Impaired drivers face jail time, the loss of their driver’s licenses, and steep financial consequences such as higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of a job.
Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like the ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign reduces impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. By joining the statewide effort, we will make Maryland’s roadways safer for everyone.
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