As families and friends gather for Thanksgiving celebrations, the holiday season also brings increased risks on Maryland’s roads due to impaired driving. Thanksgiving consistently ranks among the busiest travel times of the year, and with that comes a sharp uptick in traffic incidents involving alcohol or drugs. Law enforcement agencies and safety advocates are urging motorists to prioritize safety and avoid impaired driving. Maryland’s Laws on Impaired Driving – In Maryland, driving under the influence (DUI) carries severe penalties, including fines, license suspension, and possible imprisonment. For a DUI charge, drivers must have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Maryland also enforces a lesser charge of Driving While Impaired (DWI) for BACs between 0.04% and 0.08%. Drug-related impaired driving is treated with equal severity, with charges applying to both illicit and prescription substances that impair one’s ability to drive safely. Repeat offenders face escalating penalties, including mandatory ignition interlock device installation. Crash Data in Maryland – Over the past four years, impaired driving crashes during Thanksgiving week have shown alarming trends. Between 2020 and 2023, Maryland saw an average of 175 impaired-driving-related crashes during this holiday period annually, with 25 resulting in fatalities and over 100 causing […]
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