Extra Maryland State Police Target Drunk Drivers Over Holidays

MARYLAND — Troopers across the state will work extra hours around the Christmas and New Year's holidays through grant funding from the Maryland Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office. Their focus will be on impaired driving, aggressive driving, speeding and distracted driving, among other potential violations that can cause accidents, officials said Monday.

Troopers from each of the 23 Maryland State Police barracks will work overtime thanks to money from highway safety grants from the Maryland Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office.

Between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day last year, state troopers made 171 DUI arrests, 69 criminal arrests and 36 drug-related arrests. Troopers also issued 5,828 citations and 6,165 warnings and responded to 616 crashes and 10,527 calls for service a year ago.

More than 160 Marylanders are killed and thousands more are injured in crashes involving impaired drivers, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation. In addition, 183 people die and 27,000 more are injured each year in Maryland due to distracted driving.

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program and Lyft's SoberRide service is returning to the DC metro to keep roads safe from impaired drivers. Anyone 21 and up can get a ride up to $15 using the Lyft app. The offer is good from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. through Jan. 1. Customers will cover any additional costs of a ride over $15.

SoberRide is offered throughout Lyft's Washington, D.C. coverage area, which includes all or parts of the District of Columbia, northern Virginia and the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George's.

To redeem the offer, download the Lyft app and enter the promotion code in the app's promo section. The code will be posted on www.wrap.org/soberride at 9 p.m. on Dec. 27 and 31.

If you are attending a Christmas and/or a New Year’s Eve gathering:

• Designate your sober driver in advance and give that person your car keys.
• If you’re planning on driving, avoid drinking.
• Consider using public transportation, call a taxi or use a ride-share service if you don’t have a sober driver.
• Don’t let a friend drive if you think they are impaired.
• If you see someone who you believe is driving impaired, call police.
• Always buckle up.
• Don’t text, use a cellphone that is not hands-free or drive distracted.

If you are hosting a Christmas and/or a New Year’s Eve gathering police say:

• Remember, you can be held liable if someone you served alcohol to ends up in an impaired-driving crash.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages
• Ensure sober drivers or alternative modes of transportation are set up in advance for guest who are planning to drink alcoholic beverages.
• Have contact information for local taxi companies and/or ride-share services readily available.
• Take away the keys from anyone who is thinking of driving impaired.