Maryland Officials Urge Safe Driving During the ‘100 Deadliest Days of Summer’

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GLEN BURNIE, MD – As the summer travel season gets underway, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office and the Maryland State Police remind Marylanders to be Serious About Safety and prioritize safety on the roadways. The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are known as the deadliest days of the year as traffic crashes and road fatalities historically increase nationwide during this time.

Throughout the summer months, troopers from all 23 Maryland State Police barracks, including the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) team, and law enforcement agencies across the state will conduct high-visibility enforcement, DUI saturation patrols and public outreach efforts across the state to deter dangerous driving behaviors and keep Maryland roadways safe.

“Summer travel means more vehicles on the road, more celebrations and unfortunately, more preventable crashes,” said Chrissy Nizer, Motor Vehicle Administrator and Governor Wes Moore’s Highway Safety Representative. “We want every Marylander to enjoy their summer safely by making responsible choices behind the wheel including planning ahead for a sober ride, avoiding distractions, obeying speed limits and always buckling up.”

So far this year, troopers have removed more than 2,000 suspected impaired drivers from our roadways, with the state’s specialized unit of troopers removing another 333 in areas with high rates of impaired driving crashes, particularly in the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan regions. Additionally, troopers have cited 1,600 drivers traveling 30 or more miles per hour over the posted speed limit and 350 drivers exceeding 100 miles per hour.

“In partnership with our law enforcement and highway safety partners, we are committed to ensuring every person who travels our roadways arrives at their destination safely,” said Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. “Summer should be a season of making memories with family and friends, not tragedy on our highways. We urge motorists to obey the speed limit, never drive impaired, and remain alert, especially in work zones.”

Over the past five years in Maryland, nearly 800 people have been killed and almost 15,000 people injured in crashes involving impaired drivers. Speeding, distracted driving and aggressive driving also remain leading contributors to serious and fatal crashes during the summer months.

Roadway users are encouraged to: 

• Always designate a sober driver or use a rideshare service if consuming alcohol or drugs.
• Buckle up on every trip, every seat, every time.
• Follow posted speed limits and avoid aggressive driving behaviors.
• Make a lane change or slow down when approaching any stopped, standing or parked vehicle displaying warning signals – including hazard warning lights, road flares or other caution signals.
• Eliminate distractions and keep phones out of reach while driving.
• Stay alert for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists sharing the road.
• Slow down when traveling through work zones. 

Pedestrians are also reminded to use marked crosswalks whenever possible, remain alert while walking and wear bright or reflective clothing at night.

The Maryland Department of Transportation continues its commitment to reducing roadway fatalities through its Serious About Safety initiative and Maryland’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

Learn more about the Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office at ZeroDeathsMD.gov or follow @ZeroDeathsMD on social media.