Maryland State Police Increase Patrols For Holidays 2018

MARYLAND — Troopers across the state will be working overtime 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, officials said.

Maryland State Police announced troopers statewide have made more arrests this year of drivers suspected of being under the influence than last year at this time. Just last weekend, they made nearly 50 DUI arrests and responded to 25 crashes involving impaired drivers.

Here are the DUI and distracted driving totals Maryland State Police released through Nov. 30:

• 2018 — 6,689 DUI arrests
• 2017 — 6,508 DUI arrests
• 2018 — 15,194 distracted driving citations
• 2017 — 16,934 distracted riving citations

In addition to state police, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police — responsible for tunnels, bridges and toll roads — will be stepping up patrols to take impaired drivers off the roads this holiday season.

"It's never OK to drink and drive. Every time you go out, make a plan before your first drink," MDTA Police Chief Colonel Jerry Jones said on Thursday, Dec. 20. "If you drink and drive, you will be arrested. The last thing you want is to hurt, disable or kill someone because you were impaired and to know that you could easily have prevented it."

Approximately one in three traffic deaths in the U.S. involves a drunk driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As drivers approach holiday gatherings in the next two weeks, police advise lining up a designated driver or alternate ride home if plans include drinking alcohol.

Lyft is offering a SoberRide service from Friday, Dec. 14 until Monday, Dec. 31, between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m., in Lyft's Washington, D.C. coverage area, which includes all or parts of Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland; Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties in Virginia, plus the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park; and the District.

People anywhere around the country can also get the Safer Ride app, sponsored by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, which pulls up taxi services in your area.

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SEE ALSO:

• 25 Weekend Crashes Tied To Drugs, Alcohol: MD State Police
• Free Lyft Rides Offered In Montgomery County During 2018 Holidays
• Police: 9 DUI Crashes In Baltimore County Over Weekend
• Distracted Driving Crackdown: 16 Citations Issued In Annapolis

Main image via Shutterstock. Inline photo of MDTA impaired drivers sign by Elizabeth Janney.