Maryland State Police To Increase Highway Patrols Over Memorial Day Weekend To Promote Safe Travel

BALTIMORE COUNTY - As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the Maryland State Police are ramping up their enforcement measures in anticipation of increased highway travel. State troopers across 23 barracks, including members of the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort Team (SPIDRE), are sharpening their focus on preventing impaired driving, aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving, and other violations that lead to highway accidents.

Additional troopers will work overtime assignments backed by highway safety grants from the Maryland Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office.

"As we commence the summer travel season this Memorial Day weekend, we want everyone to reach their destinations safely," said Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. "We encourage those who choose to drink to plan for a designated driver or safe transport back home."

Statewide initiatives for Memorial Day weekend include:

• The Bel Air Barrack will monitor traffic on Routes 1, 24, 40, and 155 in Harford County.
• Salisbury Barrack will enforce the law along Routes 50 and 13 corridors in Wicomico County.
• The Annapolis Barrack will focus on DUI enforcement along Routes 50 and Interstate 97 in Anne Arundel County.
• The Forestville Barrack will concentrate its efforts on Route 5 in Prince George’s County.
• Rockville Barrack will be active on Interstate 495 in Montgomery County.
• Golden Ring Barrack will focus on crash hotspots around Interstate 695 within Baltimore County.
• Centreville Barrack will be active on Routes 301, 20, and 50.
• The Waterloo Barrack will work on crash and DUI reduction in high-crash areas within Howard County.
• The Hagerstown Barrack will conduct saturation patrols on Interstates 70 and 81 in Washington County.

According to the Maryland Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office, Maryland experienced an annual average of 152 fatalities and 2,003 injuries from impaired driving crashes from 2017 to 2021. Many of these incidents were preventable.

State Police also issued advice for Memorial Day gathering attendees and hosts, recommending designated sober drivers, public transportation use, and caution against distracted driving. Hosts were reminded of potential liability if a guest they served alcohol to ends up in an impaired-driving crash and were encouraged to provide food, non-alcoholic beverages, and arrange alternative transportation for guests planning to drink alcoholic beverages.