(Waldorf, Maryland) – The Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack will be conducting a Sobriety Checkpoint on Friday, May 6th, 2016 in Charles County, Maryland. This initiative is to reduce impaired driving collisions by educating, aggressively enforcing and arresting violators for impaired driving, and making the roadway safer for the residents and visitors to Charles County.
Impaired Driving Statistics:
• There are 7,884 impaired (alcohol and/or drugs) driving crashes statewide, resulting in 4,026 injuries and 171 fatalities every year. (Towardzerodeathsmd.com)
• A third of all statewide fatal crashes and 34 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities involve an impaired driver. (Towardzerodeathsmd.com)
• Sobriety checkpoints have been shown to be an important component of a comprehensive program to reduce drunk driving. Research had shown that sobriety checkpoints can reduce alcohol-related crashes anywhere from 18 to 26 percent. (Checkpointstrikeforce.net)
Law Enforcement encourages you to consider having a designated driver or use public transportation if you are planning on consuming alcohol. Law enforcement is asking that if you do drink, please do not drive.
Driver Responsibility:
On a side note, the Maryland State Police, La Plata Barrack urges every driver traveling on our roadways to put the cell phone down and give 100% attention to driving your vehicle. If a call or text must be made or read, please safely pull onto the shoulder or exit the roadway, stop your vehicle and take care of that business at that time. It is impossible to use your cell phone AND give 100% attention to driving a vehicle. Additionally, the State of Maryland recently passed the “Move Over Law.” When approaching an emergency vehicle or tow truck on the shoulder from the rear, please make a safe lane change from the adjacent lane to that vehicle. If the lane change is not available, please slow to a reasonable and prudent speed when passing. Violating these two laws can cause serious injury to the public and police officers.
