An official website of the State of Maryland.

Maryland.gov Translate

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration

Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland State Police Warn Motorists Against Impaired Driving Ahead of Labor Day Weekend

Press release |
Impaired Driving Press conference. Four people stand behind a podium. A woman in blue is at the microphone.
Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer speaks about the dangers of impaired driving on August 25, 2026. Credit: Maryland Department of Transportation

GLEN BURNIE, MD – As the new school year begins and Labor Day travel approaches, the Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland State Police are urging motorists to drive safely and responsibly. With more travelers on the road, the agencies are increasing enforcement and raising awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and other risky driving behaviors to keep Maryland's roads safe during the busy back-to-school and holiday travel season.

Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer was joined today by Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson; Major Eric Corbin, Assistant Chief for Maryland State Police Field Operations Bureau; and law enforcement and public health partners in Baltimore County to highlight the dangers of impaired driving.

The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is considered the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. In Maryland, nearly 800 people have been killed in crashes involving impaired drivers over the past five years. Speeding, distracted driving and aggressive driving also continue to be leading contributors to serious and fatal crashes. From August 25 through September 1, 2025 Maryland recorded nearly 150 crashes linked to impaired driving, four of which resulted in fatalities.

“The Maryland Department of Transportation is Serious About Safety and through our efforts, roadway fatalities in the state have declined for the last two straight years,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. “But every single roadway death represents a loved one who won’t be returning home to their family and a community forever altered, so while we’re proud to be moving the needle in the right direction, we know that safety is a shared responsibility and there’s more left to do. We all should choose to drive sober and slow down. MDOT is increasing enforcement and public awareness especially during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer to make sure there are fewer tragedies on Maryland roads.”

Ahead of and during Labor Day weekend, 27 law enforcement agencies across Maryland will conduct high-visibility enforcement efforts. Officers and troopers will increase patrols and focus on identifying impaired drivers in communities across the state with support from the Maryland Highway Safety Office.  

“Impaired driving is not a mistake. It is a choice, and it is a crime with consequences that extend beyond an arrest. Every choice to drive impaired puts lives at risk and can leave families and communities forever changed,” said Administrator Nizer, who also serves as Governor Wes Moore’s Highway Safety Representative. “Public safety and public health go hand-in-hand and safer roads require enforcement, education and changed behavior. I applaud the work of our partners to strengthen both public awareness and accountability around impaired driving to save lives.”

So far this year, Maryland State Police have removed more than 3,500 suspected impaired drivers from the road, including 560 arrested by the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) in Baltimore. State troopers have also cited more than 4,600 drivers traveling at least 30 mph over the posted speed limit and nearly 700 drivers exceeding 100 mph, underscoring the continued need for targeted traffic enforcement.

“Impaired driving continues to be one of the leading causes of crashes we investigate, endangering the lives of everyone traveling and working on our roadways,” said Major Eric Corbin, Assistant Chief of the Maryland State Police Field Operations Bureau, Special Operations Command. “Troopers statewide, along with the SPIDRE DUI Team and allied law enforcement agencies, will continue to work together to conduct high-visibility enforcement to ensure we all make it home safely.” 

During today’s event, partners held demonstrations of standardized field sobriety tests, ignition interlock devices and the Mobile Breath Alcohol Testing (MBAT) vehicle used to detect signs of impairment.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is dangerous and can have severe and deadly consequences. In Maryland, motorists arrested for impaired driving can face immediate penalties from the Motor Vehicle Administration, criminal and/or administrative charges in court, enrollment in an ignition interlock program and the loss of their driving privileges.

The event also included victim impact speaker Miguel Deleon, who shared the devastating and lasting impact dangerous driving has had on his family. Deleon was severely injured in an April 2023 crash involving speed and impaired driving that killed his son, Brandon. By sharing his family’s story, Deleon offered a powerful reminder that the consequences of dangerous driving extend far beyond the crash itself, forever affecting the families and loved ones left behind.

In addition to never driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol, MDOT encourages drivers to Slow the Fast Down, stay focused behind the wheel, buckle up, move over for vehicles with flashing lights, watch for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists and allow plenty of time to reach their destination.

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 Highway Safety Office and Maryland’s safety efforts at ZeroDeathsMD.gov or on Facebook, X, and Instagram at @ZeroDeathsMD.