Bulletins for Insurers

New Child Passenger Safety Law Goes into Effect October 1

GLEN BURNIE, MD (September 15, 2022) – Ensuring a child’s safety in a vehicle is one of the most important things a parent or caregiver can do. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes continue to be one of the leading causes of death for children.

To help combat these preventable tragedies, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) is joining with other state agencies, the Maryland Department of Health’s Kids In Safety Seats (Maryland KISS), the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems and the Safe Kids organization to provide child safety seat checks across the state during Child Passenger Safety Week, September 19-24.

“Height, weight and age are the three key components to determine if your child is ready to move to the next step in car seats,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “To ensure our youngest and most vulnerable passengers are safe, we encourage everyone to take time to check that children are in the correct car seat — and are always properly buckled.”

In Maryland, every driver and passenger must wear a seat belt. Children younger than age 8 must be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster unless they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall or taller. If passengers older than 16 are not wearing a seat belt, the driver can receive an $83 ticket for each offense.

MDOT MVA is supporting the following in-person and virtual events during Child Passenger Safety Week to help ensure child safety seats are properly installed (see links to make an appointment, where required):

Monday, September 19

• MDOT MVA Bel Air Branch – Appointments
  501 W MacPhail Road, Bel Air, MD 21014
  10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Tuesday, September 20

• MDOT MVA Westminster Branch – Appointments
  1106 Baltimore Blvd., Westminster, MD 21157
  Noon - 2 p.m.
• Long Green Volunteer Fire Co. – Appointments
  4506 Long Green Road, Glen Arm, MD 21057
  3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Wednesday, September 21

• MDOT MVA Salisbury Branch – Appointments
  251 Tilghman Road, Salisbury, MD 21804
  10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Thursday, September 22

• Fitzgerald Cadillac Annapolis – No Appointment Needed, Drive Ups Accepted
  34 Hudson St., Annapolis, MD 21401
  2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• MDOT MVA Glen Burnie Branch – Information Only, No Official Seat Check
  6601 Ritchie Highway NE, Glen Burnie, MD 21062
  10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Friday, September 23

• MDOT MVA Frederick Branch - Appointments
  1601 Bowmans Farm Road, Frederick, MD 21701
  10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Saturday, September 24

• Bayside Toyota - Appointments
  120 Auto Dr., Prince Frederick, MD
  9 a.m. - Noon
• National Seat Check Saturday - Appointments
  Virtual: One-on-One with Certified Technician

In addition to these events, agencies across the state offer in-person and virtual checks throughout the year to teach parents and caregivers how to correctly use car seats. Visit ZeroDeathsMD.gov/CarSeat for information.

Officials encourage everyone who transports children – parents, grandparents, guardians and other family members – to ensure they use the right car seat for the age and weight of the child and that it is installed correctly.​​

Officials also highlighted a new Maryland law that requires children to remain in a rear-facing child safety seat until at least age 2 unless the child reaches the manufacturer’s height and weight limit for the car seat. The measure, Senate Bill 176, signed into law by Governor Hogan and goes into effect October 1. The first offense for violating the new law is a warning. Existing Maryland law also notes that if passengers younger than 16 are not wearing a seat belt, the driver may receive an $83 ticket.

Instructional Videos

MDOT MVA has developed a series of instructional videos demonstrating the proper installation of rear-facing and forward-facing car seats and booster seats, as well as guidelines for transitioning from a booster seat to “seat belt only.” Watch the videos, and share them with friends and family members:

• Rear-facing – Demonstration of proper installation of a rear-facing car seat and how to determine when a child is ready for the next level car seat.
• Forward-facing – Demonstration of proper installation of forward-facing/all-in-one safety seats and how to determine when a child is ready for the next level car seat.
• Booster seats – Demonstration of proper use of booster seats and review of the difference between backless boosters and those with backs.
• Seat belts – Guidelines and tips for transitioning from a booster seat to “seat belt only,” and the importance of buckling up for all vehicle occupants.

Learn more about the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office’s commitment to zero deaths on Maryland roadways at ZeroDeathsMD.gov and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at zerodeathsmd.

Agency Recognized at International Conference in Baltimore with More Than 1,000 Attendees

GLEN BURNIE, MD (September 20, 2022) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) has received three Service Awards and three Public Affairs and Consumer Education (PACE) Awards from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) for the agency’s work in Customer Convenience and Education, Innovative Use of Technology and Community Service. The AAMVA awards honor individuals, teams and organizations for the commitment of time and resources to promote safety initiatives, outstanding customer service and public affairs and consumer educational programs throughout North America.

MDOT MVA received the awards during the 2022 AAMVA Annual International Conference, held September 13-15 in Baltimore. More than 1,000 professionals from 59 jurisdictions, including Canadian provinces, attended the conference, which was hosted by MDOT MVA. Each year, the AAMVA Conference is held in the home state of the chair of the AAMVA International Board of Directors. MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer served that role for the last year.

“I am so proud of the MDOT MVA team for continuing to find innovative and convenient ways to provide Marylanders with premier customer service, whether it’s face to face in our branch offices or making services more accessible online,” said Administrator Nizer. “Maryland continues to be at the forefront of customer-focused initiatives, and it was an honor to recognize the team in front of hundreds of our AAMVA colleagues.”

“AAMVA awards are the industry standard for excellence, innovation and customer service, and it’s a great source of pride for the entire MDOT Team that Chrissy and her staff have been recognized for their outstanding work,” said MDOT Secretary James F. Ports, Jr. “The AAMVA Conference was terrific, and as the host agency MDOT MVA showed off the best of MDOT, Baltimore and all of Maryland.”

MDOT MVA received both regional and international recognition in the Customer Convenience category for the implementation of its birth certificate printing program. The award recognizes jurisdictions for making life easier for customers by offering new programs or enhancing existing programs. The birth certificate printing service, offered in the Annapolis, Baltimore City, Essex, Frederick and Largo branch offices, provides Maryland-born customers with a certified copy of their birth certificate as proof of identity to get their REAL ID. Since the program’s inception in 2021, more than 2,000 customers have taken advantage of this service.

In the Community Service category, MDOT MVA received regional and international recognition for its partnership with the Baltimore City Office of Homeless Services to provide identification cards to individuals experiencing homelessness. This partnership provided a critical step for these individuals to receive housing, secure employment and other benefits.

AAMVA’s Innovative Use of Technology award praised the agency’s efforts allowing customers the ability to request and be approved for disability products online. In real time, a customer’s physician can digitally input medical certification and support an individual’s eligibility for disability plates and placards. Customers can submit and track progress of their application, eliminating a trip to an MDOT MVA branch for this critical service. This service was implemented following MDOT MVA’s IT modernization project, Customer Connect, which allows the agency to offer more online services than ever before. In fact, Customer Connect recently received the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials America’s Transportation Award for Best Use of Tech and Innovation, and is under consideration for national recognition.

MDOT MVA was also the recipient of three Region 1 PACE Awards. In the print and electronic publications category, the agency was recognized for Maryland’s Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Strategic Framework. This framework recommends developing plans that align with CAV technology strategies and reflects Maryland’s multi-disciplinary approach to CAVs.

In the Region 1 PACE writing category, MDOT MVA received recognition for the Child Passenger Safety Week 2021 Press Release that provided education and resources for parents and caregivers to support safe travel practices, as well as videos demonstrating the proper installation of child safety seats for various ages.

And in the website and technology category, MDOT MVA received an award for the Zero Deaths Maryland Website, which was recently redesigned to be user-friendly and easy to navigate. Since its launch, organic and paid media efforts have driven more than 120,000 visitors to the site.

Founded in 1933, AAMVA serves North American motor vehicle and law enforcement agencies. The association’s mission – Safe Drivers, Safe Vehicles, Secure Identities, Saving Lives – guides its activities, resources and programs in driver licensing, vehicle titling and registration, motor carrier services, identity management and technology solutions.

For a full list of the 2022 winners and more information about the AAMVA Awards.

Motorists Urged to Slow Down, Stay Alert, Use Seat Belts and Drive Off-Peak

(May 26, 2022) – From the beaches of the Eastern Shore to the mountains in Western Maryland, travelers will return to the state's roads and bridges in high numbers this Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day marks the start of summer for many Marylanders, and today officials from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Maryland law enforcement agencies, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and AAA Mid-Atlantic gathered at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to urge all travelers to put safety first and Keep Summer Alive.

“Summer months are when families gather to share time together and enjoy the beauty of Maryland, and we know many are planning to travel this weekend and over the next few months," said MDOT Secretary James F. Ports, Jr. “If we all practice safe driving and look out for one another, we can make sure everyone arrives safely, enjoys their trip and returns home happy, healthy and with a lot of great memories."

AAA Mid-Atlantic projects the number of Marylanders planning to travel this Memorial Day weekend is more than 814,000, with the majority – nearly 90% – driving to their destinations.

“Despite record-high gas prices, 35 million Americans – including nearly 730,000 Marylanders – are expected to hit the roads this Memorial Day weekend. Our roadways will be as crowded as they have been over the holiday since pre-pandemic, so travelers should plan accordingly," said Ragina Cooper Ali, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Nearly half of fatalities on Maryland roadways occur from May through September. Officials are reminding residents of the most common causes of crashes and fatalities – all of which are preventable – and how they can “Be the Driver" who saves lives by practicing safe habits:

• Be the FOCUSED Driver: While the most common distraction is cellphone use, distraction from tending to other passengers, eating or adjusting the music/radio contribute to nearly 30% of roadway fatalities.
• Be the SOBER Driver or Be the MAKE A PLAN Driver: About one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities are attributed to the presence of drugs, alcohol or both. Driving impaired is illegal and 100% preventable. If you plan to drink, make a plan for a sober ride home.
• Be the SLOW Down Driver: Increased speeds cause increased severity of crashes. Slow down to ensure you have enough time to react to situations around you.
• Be the BUCKLED UP Driver: Every trip, every occupant. It takes three seconds to secure a seat belt. More than 110 people are killed each year that were unbuckled. 

“One of the best things about our great state is the many destinations it offers – and our priority every day is to ensure every person gets to their intended destination safely," said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who serves as Governor Larry Hogan's Highway Safety Representative. “We need motorists to focus on the task at hand – driving. Slow down, drive sober and take driving seriously. The lives of yourself, your passengers and all who share the road with you is in your hands."

Maryland State Police (MSP) Lt. Col. Roland L. Butler, Jr., said that no matter where in Maryland people are traveling, MSP and allied agencies will be on duty enforcing the rules of the road. Throughout the summer, law enforcement agencies will participate in high visibility enforcement efforts for impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding/aggressive driving and distracted driving.

“As we prepare for increased traffic during the summer months, you will see a noticeable increased police presence," said Lt. Col. Butler, MSP Field Operations Bureau Chief. “Together with our law enforcement partners, it will be an all-hands-on deck approach to ensure that you arrive to your destinations safely."

For those crossing the Bay Bridge, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) is advising that heavy eastbound traffic volumes are expected Thursday through Saturday, May 26-28, with heavy westbound traffic expected Sunday and Monday, May 29-30. The best times to travel the Bay Bridge this weekend include:

• Thursday, May 26 – before 10 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
• Friday, May 27 – before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
• Saturday, May 28 – before 8 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
• Sunday, May 29 – before 11 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
• Memorial Day Monday, May 30 – before 9 a.m. and after 11 p.m.

Motorists should stay on US 50 on both sides of the bridge to keep local roadways open for first responders and residents. All-electronic (cashless) tolling is now permanent statewide, with tolls collected through E-ZPass, Video Tolling or Pay-By-Plate. E-ZPass is the most cost-effective method, saving drivers up to 77%. Enroll in E-ZPass or sign up for Pay-By-Plate at DriveEzMD.com. For 24/7 Bay Bridge traffic information, call 1-877-BAYSPAN (1-877-229-7726) or visit Baybridge.com. Travelers can also sign up for email/text alerts at https://bit.ly/2Dh9EZn, and follow the MDTA at twitter.com/TheMDTA.

For those traveling along I-95 in northeast Maryland, Maryland House (mile marker 82) and Chesapeake House (mile marker 97) travel plazas are open for food, rest and Wi-Fi access.

MDOT State Highway Administration will suspend major lane closures for non-emergency roadwork from
3 p.m. Thursday, May 26 through 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 31. MDOT SHA and MDTA patrols will be on duty to assist disabled vehicles and clear incidents. Go to roads.maryland.gov for real-time traffic information.

Maryland DNR and MDOT MVA team up for boater safety campaign

At Thursday's event, Maryland Natural Resources Police Col. G. Adrian Baker discussed the important choices Marylanders need to make to ensure safety, whether they are on the road traveling to enjoy Maryland's state parks or on the state's many waterways.

“We want all residents and visitors to safely enjoy Maryland's unique destinations and summer activities while putting safety first," Col. Baker said. “Please remember to click it – your seat belt and your life jacket – and never drive impaired behind the wheel of a car or boat. Each of us has a responsibility to ourselves and to others in ensuring safe travel this summer."

As part of its overall safety message, MDOT MVA's Highway Safety Office is launching the Keep Summer Alive campaign in partnership with DNR and DNR Police. Part of the overall Be the Driver initiative that stresses safe driving habits, Keep Summer Alive reinforces the message that sober driving is critical on and off the water. 

If you plan to enjoy a day out on the water, ensure you have a sober ride home. Campaign ads will be shared throughout the summer on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, billboards and Pandora.

Learn more about MDOT MVA's Highway Safety Office's commitment to zero deaths on Maryland roadways at ZeroDeathsMD.gov and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at ZeroDeathsMD.

BWI Marshall reopens Express Parking ahead of summer travel season

For those traveling by air, passenger traffic is expected to increase this weekend at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Travelers should give themselves plenty of time for airline check-in and the security checkpoint process.

At BWI Marshall Airport, passenger traffic continues to recover, reaching 18.8 million passengers in 2021, an increase of 68% compared to the previous year. Last week, BWI Marshall reopened its Express Parking, which was temporarily closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic. Express Parking provides an additional 1,400 spaces for customers ahead of the peak summer travel season.

Transit service operating on modified schedule Memorial Day

The MDOT Maryland Transit Administration will operate on a modified schedule Memorial Day, May 30. CityLink and LocalLink buses, Light RailLink and Metro SubwayLink will operate on the Sunday/Holiday schedule on Memorial Day, and Commuter Bus will operate Bus Route 201, running odd numbered trips on the Weekend/Holiday schedule. MARC Train will not operate Memorial Day.

MobilityLink will not operate subscription rides over the Memorial Day weekend. Customers must call the MobilityLink Call Center – which will be open Memorial Day – at 410-764-8181 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to reschedule May 30 rides.

MDOT Memorial Day Holiday Travel Forecast Graphics

Memorial Day weekend travel forecast graphics for the Bay Bridge and the Baltimore and Washington D.C. regions are available at the links below for use in print and online presentations. Please credit Maryland Department of Transportation.

• Bay Bridge Travel Forecast
• Baltimore Region Travel Forecast
• Washington Region Travel Forecast

EDITOR'S NOTE: See below sample images of these graphics.

Annual program trains state’s impaired driving enforcement leaders

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (June 15, 2022) – Twenty-nine officers from 15 law enforcement agencies across the state graduated Friday from the University of Maryland’s (UMD) DUI Institute, a rigorous 40-hour program that develops leaders in the enforcement of alcohol-impaired driving laws. In its 19th year, the award-winning program was developed by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office, the UMD Department of Behavioral and Community Health, police officers and national experts. Since its inception, more than 450 officers have graduated from the program.

“Once again, drunk or drugged driving was one of the leading causes of fatal or serious injury crashes last year. Too many innocent victims have lost their lives due to someone’s selfish choice to drive impaired,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “By providing additional training and resources to law enforcement officers statewide, we are working to remove those who irresponsibly choose to drive impaired from our roadways.”

DUI Institute participants learned the latest information on the effectiveness of impaired driving countermeasures including ignition interlocks, DUI courts and sobriety checkpoints, police traffic management, the physiology of alcohol and its abuse/addiction, and courtroom testimony. Officers also received advanced training in conducting Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and practiced these techniques with volunteers.

The DUI Institute is sponsored by the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To learn more about the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office’s Zero Deaths campaign, visit zerodeathsmd.gov or like and follow @ZeroDeathsMD on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MDOT, law enforcement partners announce 2021 figures and urge commitment to safety; Survey indicates 93% of Marylanders consider unsafe driving a major problem

GLEN BURNIE, MD (April 18, 2022) – While states across the country experienced an increase in roadway fatalities in 2021, Maryland saw a decline of nearly 3% compared to 573 fatalities in 2020. State transportation and law enforcement officials gathered today to announce the data, and said despite the decrease, Maryland still saw an unacceptable number of crashes – 519 – resulting in 557 fatalities, including 129 pedestrians and six bicyclists.

“We have the ability, and the responsibility, to stop these needless tragedies,” said Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary James F. Ports, Jr. “Today, I challenge every person – every driver, passenger, motorcyclist, pedestrian, bicyclist – every single person who uses our roadways. Let’s work together to bring the number of fatalities on Maryland roads to zero.”

Secretary Ports joined with MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) Administrator Chrissy Nizer, Maryland State Police (MSP) Superintendent Col. Woodrow W. Jones III and other transportation officials, traffic safety leaders, law enforcement officials and safety advocates at the Maryland Highway Safety Summit. The summit is an annual meeting of safety leaders and stakeholders to develop steps for Maryland’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, a five-year program with the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030.

“Every year, we make the tragic announcement of the number of people who have lost their life due to preventable crashes on our roadways,” said Administrator Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “We are committed to zero deaths through a variety of strategies, but it’s up to each of us to be a responsible road user every time we get in a vehicle by wearing a seat belt, slowing down, driving sober, staying focused and sharing the road with pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.”

“Impaired driving, speeding, distracted and aggressive driving continue to be actions that lead to tragedies on our roads. Safety on our roadways is top priority, and that’s why we join forces to focus on the driving behaviors that most contribute to crashes,” said Superintendent Col. Jones. “As Maryland State Police continue to work statewide and around the clock to remove these dangerous drivers from our highways, we are proud to join this ongoing effort to move toward zero deaths.”

According to a recent Road Safety Attitudes and Behavior survey conducted by WBA Research on behalf of MDOT, the majority of Maryland road users across all regions and demographic groups consider unsafe driving a major problem. Yet, every year familiar factors contribute to roadway fatalities: speed, distractions, impairment by alcohol and drugs, and lack of seat belt use.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Speeding is a significant aggressive driving behavior and is estimated to be a contributing factor in more than one-third of all fatal crashes nationwide. Yet in the survey:

• About 41% of drivers surveyed admitted to frequently or sometimes driving 15 MPH or more over the speed limit on a highway (55 MPH); and
• Another 37% of drivers admitted to driving 10 MPH or more over the speed limit on a residential street (30 MPH) in the past 30 days.

The probability of death or serious injury grows with impacts at higher speeds, doubling for every 10 MPH over 50 MPH that a vehicle travels. A pedestrian or bicyclist struck by a motorist driving 40 MPH is eight times more likely to die than a pedestrian or bicyclist struck at 20 MPH.

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety

Everyone is a pedestrian at some point, and it’s important that everyone does their part to share the road. Pedestrians should always follow traffic rules and cross at designated pedestrian crossings wherever possible. In the survey:

• 57% of respondents said they don’t feel comfortable walking along or crossing roadways.
• However, 37% said they always utilize a crosswalk when available.

In 2020, 88 pedestrians were killed at locations other than crosswalks – including walking on the shoulder, in the median, or at an intersection not within the available crosswalk.

• 76% of cyclists who bike along roadways indicated in the survey that they follow the same rules of the road that they would in a car.
• 61% reported wearing bright or reflective clothing and/or outfitting their bikes with lights for riding in poor visibility situations.
• 52% of bicyclists who ride on roadways felt comfortable in a bike lane in the last 30 days.
• However, this drops to 38% when there is no bike lane available.

Seat Belt Use

The perceived importance of and reported seat belt use among Maryland drivers appears to be widespread, but not universal. About two-thirds of respondents said they always wear a seat belt while riding in the back seat of a vehicle. Exposure to unbelted occupants increases the risk of injury or death to others in the vehicle by 40% as they can become projectiles in the event of a crash.

• That percentage increases to 8% when the driver was traveling within 5 miles or 10 minutes of home.

While the 8% figure is a seemingly low percentage of survey respondents, short, routine trips can be some of the most dangerous. Most crash-related deaths happen within 25 miles from home and at speeds of less than 40 mph.

Distracted Driving

Although the use of a hand-held cell phone is the only citable offense for distracted driving in Maryland, there are multiple distractions that can lead to a crash. Drivers surveyed admitted to the following distracted behaviors:

• Talking on a cell phone using a hands-free device while driving (61%),
• Actively searching for radio programming while driving (50%),
• Actively searching for or skipping through an audio stream while driving (47%),
• Programming a mobile GPS app or another GPS/guidance system while driving (46%),
• Feeling distracted by other vehicles (42%), and
• Using a mobile app while driving (excluding GPS) (37%).

Distracted driving contributes to more than one-third of motor vehicle fatalities in Maryland. Drivers are reminded to put the phone down and only focus on driving.

Impaired Driving

Impaired driving is 100% preventable; however, over the past five years in Maryland, nearly 800 people have been killed in crashes involving an impaired driver. When asked about the reason for not driving impaired, respondents reported:

• Fear of harm to themselves (86%) or others (79%) was cited by respondents as top reasons for not driving impaired.
• However, more than 3% of those surveyed admitted to driving impaired in the past 30 days.
• 53% of drivers listed fear of arrest as influential on their decision to drive sober, yet more than 17,000 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in Maryland last year.

Learn more about the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office by visiting ZeroDeathsMD.gov or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Year-to-date and comprehensive data reports are available at ZeroDeathsMD.gov/CrashData.

Note: 2021 data is preliminary and subject to change.​

6-27-2022

WHAT:         
The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) will join law enforcement officials to remind motorists traveling over the Fourth of July weekend to plan ahead for a safe and sober ride home. The Maryland State Police (MSP) elite State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort – or SPIDRE – team, along with other local enforcement agencies, will be out in force taking impaired drivers off the road. Tours of the MSP Mobile Breath Alcohol Testing (MBAT) Truck, specially designed to process impaired drivers at the scene of arrest, will be available for the media following the press event. The MBAT Truck will be used throughout the holiday weekend to help ensure impaired motorists are removed from the roadways promptly.

WHEN:         
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
10:30 a.m.      

WHERE:       
Maryland State Police, Waterloo Barrack
7777 Washington Blvd.
Jessup, MD 20794

WHO:            
Chrissy Nizer, Administrator, MDOT MVA and Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative
Lt. Col. Roland Butler, Chief of the MSP Field Operations Bureau
Chris Kalnasy, resident who was struck by an impaired driver in 2016

WHY:            
Impaired driving is 100% preventable; however, over the past five years in Maryland, nearly 800 people have been killed and 15,300 have been injured in crashes involving an impaired driver. Police reports show increased speed, instances of impairment and lower seat belt use as the most common contributing factors in motor vehicle fatalities. Learn more about the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office at ZeroDeathsMD.gov or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @ZeroDeathsMD.

Officials remind Marylanders of car seat safety and new law requiring a rear-facing seat through age 2

GLEN BURNIE, MD (May 19, 2022) – On average each year in Maryland, 110 unbuckled drivers and passengers are killed in motor vehicle crashes. If all drivers and passengers buckled up, many lives could be saved every year. The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office and state and local law enforcement encourage every Marylander, drivers and passengers, to buckle up – every seat, every ride, day and night.

Last June, MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office conducted its annual Roadside Observation Seat Belt Survey at 130 select sites in 13 jurisdictions. The survey observed nearly 40,000 vehicles and observed 91.4% of front-seat occupants using a seat belt – an increase from 89.9% in 2020.

“Our seat belt use rate has been around the 90% for years – meaning 1 in 10 Marylanders are still not buckling up every time they get into a vehicle,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “We are focused on that remaining 10% of Marylanders and asking those drivers and passengers to take safety into their own hands and buckle up – no matter the type of vehicle, the distance or speed they are traveling.”

According to a recent Road Safety Attitudes and Behavior survey, two-thirds of respondents said they always wear a seat belt while riding in the back seat of a vehicle. That means one-third of those back-seat passengers do not wear a seat belt on some occasions. In the event of a crash, unbelted occupants increase the risk of injury or death to others in the vehicle by 40%, as they can become projectiles.

Five percent of drivers surveyed admitted to not wearing their seat belt when sitting in the front seat of the car. That percentage increased to 8% when the driver was traveling within five miles or 10 minutes of home. While the 8% figure is a seemingly low percentage, short, routine trips can be some of the most dangerous. Most crash-related deaths happen within 25 miles from home and at speeds of less than 40 mph.

Starting Monday, May 23, through June 5, more than 35 law enforcement agencies across the state are joining together for the 2022 Click It or Ticket campaign, with additional enforcement efforts in every county to help save lives. Throughout the end of May and into June, advertising will run locally and nationally on billboards, television, radio and online to spread awareness of stepped-up enforcement.

MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office will also promote its campaign, Be the BUCKLED UP Driver, which focuses on excuses often used by drivers and passengers for not wearing a seat belt, and why they are not valid compared to the most important reason for wearing a seat belt: because it saves lives.

In Maryland, every driver and passenger must wear a seat belt. Children younger than 8 must be in an appropriate booster or child safety seat unless they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall or taller. If passengers older than 16 are not wearing a seat belt, the driver can receive an $83 ticket for each offense.

A bill recently signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan, SB0176, requires that beginning October 1, 2022, a person transporting a child under age 2 in a motor vehicle is required to secure the child in a rear-facing child safety seat that complies with applicable federal regulations until the child reaches the manufacturer's weight or height limit for the child safety seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends children should ride rear-facing for as long as possible, as it offers the best protection in the event of a crash.

Officials encourage everyone who transports children, including parents, grandparents, guardians and other family members to ensure they are using the right car seat for the age and weight of each child and that it is installed correctly. Agencies across the state, including the Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (KISS) program, offer in-person and virtual checks to teach parents and caregivers how to correctly use car seats. Visit ZeroDeathsMD.gov/CarSeats for more information.

Learn more about MDOT MVA’s commitment to zero deaths on Maryland roadways at ZeroDeathsMD.gov and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at ZeroDeathsMD.

Safety officials spread the message: Crashes are not accidents

MIDDLE RIVER, MD (July 27, 2022) – Near an isolated stretch of pavement in Baltimore County, a car crashed Tuesday morning into a concrete barrier at 35 mph. The vehicle suffered significant damage, and the four occupants inside – none of them using seat belts – were thrown about with tremendous force, turning them into projectiles colliding into one another.

The crash could have been deadly – except the occupants were mannequins.

The simulation, staged by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Baltimore County Police Department and held at Martin State Airport, was designed to offer a sobering reminder that, even at low highway speeds, crashes can result in severe injuries or fatalities for unbuckled travelers.

“As displayed today, injuries that occur from crashes like these are avoidable with the simple task of buckling up,” said Chrissy Nizer, MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) Administrator and Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative.

“Failure to correctly wear a seat belt remains one of the leading contributing factors of roadway fatalities in Maryland, along with impaired and distracted driving and speeding,” Administrator Nizer added. “Today, we challenged Marylanders to change their thinking that crashes are unavoidable – and to start making safer choices behind the wheel.”

Nizer was joined by MDOT Secretary James F. Ports, Jr., Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police Chief Col. Kevin M. Anderson and Dr. Thomas M. Scalea, Physician-in-Chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Each stressed that most vehicle crashes are avoidable – and should not be referred to as “accidents.” They said making simple choices behind the wheel can save lives.

“Data shows that most crash-related deaths happen within 25 miles from a person’s home, and at speeds of less than 40 miles per hour,” Secretary Ports said. “It’s simple physics: Even at low speeds, people in a crash continue forward, often resulting in injury or even death for themselves and others. Seat belts save lives, and we need every vehicle occupant to buckle up – every seat, every ride.”

According to the annual Roadside Observational Survey completed in June 2021, Maryland’s statewide seat belt usage rate is 91.4%, meaning nearly one in 10 front-seat passengers are not buckling up.

Tuesday’s demonstration included two simulated crashes, varying which occupants were buckled and unbuckled. In the first, most passengers (mannequins) were buckled, including a toddler-size mannequin in a rear-facing car seat, properly restrained. The only unrestrained passenger was behind the driver. The demonstration showed that even a single unrestrained passenger can become a projectile in a crash leading to serious injury or death for others in the vehicle. In the second simulated crash, all occupants, including a child mannequin, were unrestrained – and all became projectiles.

Airbags were removed from demonstration vehicles for the safety of event bystanders. Officials noted that airbags alone don’t save occupants, and are meant to be utilized with seat belts. In the event of a crash, unbuckled occupants can continue on forward right past airbags.

Dr. Scalea provided first-hand knowledge of the most common injuries seen at Shock Trauma from car crashes, as well as an analysis of suspected injuries occupants would have likely endured during the simulated crash. In the first crash, because of the seat belts, all occupants remained in their general seating positions post-crash, except for the unrestrained mannequin behind the driver. The unrestrained mannequin’s head and chest was propelled into the back of the driver’s seat, while its legs became twisted under the seat. The unrestrained mannequin also caused significant injuries to the driver mannequin's midsection. In the second crash, all the unbuckled mannequins were thrown from their seats. The front seat occupants would have likely suffered injuries to their head, abdomen, arms, and legs. The unrestrained child mannequin was thrown forward then rebounded back into the seat, before colliding with the other unrestrained backseat passenger. The unrestrained child would have likely suffered injuries to the spine, back and abdomen.  

Officials also highlighted a new Maryland law that requires children to remain in a rear-facing child safety seat until at least age 2 unless the child reaches the manufacturer’s height and weight limit for the car seat. The measure, Senate Bill 176 - PDF, signed into law by Governor Hogan and goes into effect October 1. The first offense for violating the new law is a warning. Existing Maryland law also notes that if passengers older than 16 are not wearing a seat belt, the driver may receive an $83 ticket for each offense.

MDTA Police Chief Col. Anderson said that during traffic stops, his officers have encountered children not properly restrained – ranging from no car seat in use to children placed in car seats but not harnessed. He urged everyone transporting children to ensure they are using the right car seat for the age and weight of each child – and make sure it’s installed correctly.

“Children are some of the most vulnerable road users and are usually at the mercy of being properly buckled by their caregivers,” said Col. Anderson. “The new law is not about giving citations. It’s a way to help guide parents on better practices to keep a child safe in a vehicle. We want caregivers to know there are resources for them to ensure their car seat is installed correctly and they are using the right seat for their child.”

Agencies across the state, including the Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (KISS) program, offer in-person and virtual checks to teach parents and caregivers how to correctly use car seats. Caregivers can visit ZeroDeathsMD.gov/road-safety/child-passenger-safety for more information. Additional components of Maryland’s child passenger safety law require children younger than eight be in an appropriate booster or child safety seat unless they are at least four feet, nine inches tall. The American Academy of Pediatrics and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends children ride rear facing for as long as possible, as it offers the best protection in the event of a crash.

Officials also warn of dangers of extreme heat

In addition to the crash demonstrations, The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems brought an outdoor temperature display to demonstrate how quickly a vehicle can heat up in the sun to a temperature that would quickly kill a child or pet if left unattended.

Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches 104 degrees and become fatal for children if their core temperature reaches 107 degrees. During Tuesday’s demonstration, the vehicle reached 104 degrees, despite the outside temperature only being 78 degrees. This demonstration reiterated the fact that it doesn’t have to be an extremely hot day for vehicles to reach dangerous temperatures.

Learn more about the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office’s commitment to zero deaths on Maryland roadways at ZeroDeathsMD.gov and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at zerodeathsmd.

MDOT MVA planning education outreach for bill focused on child passenger safety

GLEN BURNIE, MD (June 30, 2022) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) is alerting customers to new laws passed during the 2022 General Assembly that take effect Friday, July 1, including a vehicle excise tax exemption for active-duty military members. House Bill 479 exempts active-duty military currently deployed to Maryland from their home state – and those from Maryland returning home from active-duty elsewhere – from being assessed the excise tax on a vehicle when transferring the title and registration in their name from another state to Maryland for the first time. The law also removes the one-year limit in which military members were required to transfer title and registration to Maryland to qualify for the exemption.

“House Bill 479 removes another obstacle that our service members should not need to worry about as they are serving our country,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer. “Over the last several years, MDOT MVA has been focused on providing our military members with the support they need through implementing legislation and new services and programs.”

The excise tax exemption is one of several bills implemented in recent years that benefit service members, including two bills that took effect in 2020. The first, HB 133, exempts active military personnel from Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program requirements for vehicles owned by an active-duty member of the military deployed outside of the United States or in a state not subject to a vehicle emissions inspection. MDOT MVA leadership proposed the bill after meeting the mother of a soldier who was stationed out of state and was unable to complete the emissions inspection on his vehicle, which was registered in Maryland.

The second, HB 646, allocates $10 from the sale of certain license plates to the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund, a non-emergency, temporary assistance program administered by the Maryland Veteran’s Administration. Eligible plates include those recognizing individually-earned combat-related armed services medals, honorably discharged veterans and recipients of U.S. Department of Defense Gold Star status, awarded to a surviving spouse, parent or next of kin of a United States armed forces member who lost his or her life in combat.

Another bill going into effect July 1 that impacts motor vehicles in Maryland is HB1391, also known as the Clean Cars Act of 2022. The bill establishes a Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Grant Program for certain vehicles and equipment.

MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office is also educating Marylanders of Senate Bill 176, which goes into effect October 1. The bill requires a person transporting a child under age 2 in a motor vehicle to secure the child in a rear-facing child safety seat that complies with applicable federal regulations until the child reaches the manufacturer's weight or height limit for the child safety seat.

Educational messages and safety tips for drivers and riders planned throughout the riding season

GLEN BURNIE, MD (May 9, 2022) – Sometimes you see them, many times you don’t. To raise awareness and encourage all travelers to share the road with motorcycle riders, Governor Larry Hogan has proclaimed - PDF the month of May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Maryland. In support of the proclamation and general motorcyclists’ safety, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office and Maryland State Police announce the launch of the new Maryland MOTORS (Motor Officers Teaching Other Riders Safety) motorcycle training program.

In 2021, there were 74 motorcycle-involved fatalities in Maryland, an increase from 2020 when 68 fatalities occurred in the state. More can be done to promote safety on Maryland roadways.

“Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable roadway users, and it’s up to each and every Marylander to take a second look for motorcyclists while traveling,” said Chrissy Nizer, MDOT MVA Administrator and Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is an important time to remind drivers and motorcycle riders to look out for each other, avoid distractions and drive responsibly.”

According to the results of a recent Road Safety Behaviors and Attitudes study conducted on behalf of MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office, motorcyclists have high interest in additional or advanced training. Overall, 40% of motorcycle drivers surveyed said they have already participated in an advanced rider training course, while 22% have only taken a beginner course and 5% said they received no training whatsoever. Thirty percent of respondents reported they had been trained by another driver/operator.

More than 90% of motorcyclists surveyed “strongly” or “somewhat agree” with the premise that supplemental training in motorcycle operation/driving has benefits, and 80% would be interested in taking a free motorcycle training course taught by law enforcement agencies.

In partnership between the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office and Maryland State Police, the new Maryland MOTORS class will launch June 1, 2022. It’s a motorcycle safety class for civilian riders taught by police officers. The free classes are open to all motorcyclists with a valid motorcycle license and insurance. The two-part training consists of a classroom portion and a road portion where the civilian riders are accompanied by the motorcycle officers on an actual ride. During and after the ride, officers communicate with the civilian riders about ways to stay safe, along with evaluations of riding techniques intended to increase the safety of the civilians.

Maryland MOTORS classes are open for registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Civilians interested in taking a class can sign up here. An additional list of training centers where riders can ensure they have the skills and mental strategies for responsible motorcycle operation can be found on ZeroDeathsMD.gov/Road-Safety/Motorcycle-Safety.

“Maryland is working hard to create and maintain a transportation network that’s safe and accessible for all users – and that includes motorcyclists,” said MDOT Secretary James F. Ports Jr. “Looking out for one another on our roadways means practicing safe driving behaviors and always being aware of our surroundings and the fellow travelers who are sharing the road.”

As part of Motorcycle Safety Month, MDOT MVA is encouraging drivers and riders to share the road and help protect one another by using the following tips:

For Drivers:

• Share the road with motorcyclists. Motorcyclists can use the full travel lane, so give them space and don’t cut them off.  
• Look twice for motorcycles. When there is a crash involving a car and a motorcycle, the car driver is at fault more than half of the time. Signal your intentions and always check two or more times before making left turns, merging, changing lanes or pulling into traffic.
• Remember that motorcyclists are smaller than cars. Drivers tend to look for other cars and trucks, not for motorcyclists. And, because a rider and their motorcycle are smaller than a car, they are often difficult to see.  
• Minimize and check your blind spots. Motorcycles are easily hidden by a driver’s blind spot. Check your mirrors regularly when driving and adjust them to show more of the road and less of your vehicle.  

For Motorcycle Riders:

• Be courteous, non-aggressive and respectful of other road users when riding.  
• Make yourself visible at all times. Choose riding gear that increases your visibility in traffic, in addition to providing protection in the event of a crash. Use bright colors and retro-reflective strips or decals, especially at night.
• Ride so you are seen. There is no one “safest” place to ride in terms of visibility. Use lane positioning to be seen by drivers. Ride with your headlight on and consider using a modulating headlight.
• Give yourself space and time to react. Allow space for braking or for avoiding a crash.  
• Signal your intentions. Signal before changing lanes. Avoid weaving between lanes. Flash your brake light when you are slowing down and before stopping. Make your lane changes gradually.
• Learn early, learn often. Motorcycle safety training courses have much to offer new, experienced and returning riders. Keep your skills sharp by regularly participating in motorcycle skills training courses. 

Motorcycle crashes are preventable. The MDOT MVA Highway Safety Office’s Be the Driver safety awareness campaign reminds both drivers and riders to drive sober, put the phone down, slow down and buckle up when in a vehicle. The message to “Be the LOOK TWICE Driver” will be shared throughout May, depicting how a driver can easily see a motorcyclists one second, and how quick that motorcycle can disappear in a blind spot. Public service advertisements will run on Facebook, WBAL Radio, 98 Rock and select billboards across the state.

Learn more about MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office’s commitment to zero deaths on Maryland roadways at ZeroDeathsMD.gov and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at zerodeathsmd.gov.

NOTE: A copy of Governor Hogan’s Proclamation declaring May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is attached.

| Nearly 87% of Marylanders are ready to fly

BALTIMORE, MD (May 4, 2022) – If you’re planning to travel by plane this time next year, it’s time to get real about getting REAL ID ready. Marylanders now have less than a year to get a federally mandated REAL ID ahead of the May 3, 2023 deadline. Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary James F. Ports, Jr., joined MDOT Motor Vehicle Administrator (MDOT MVA) Chrissy Nizer and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Airport) Executive Director Ricky Smith to mark the one-year milestone this afternoon in an effort to ensure every Marylander is well-informed and prepared.

“Maryland has made significant progress over the last few years, assisting more than 4.2 million people become REAL ID ready,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Nizer. “Our goal is to ensure every Marylander is aware of the upcoming deadline, understands the requirements to obtain a REAL ID if they don’t already have one and can access the tools that are readily available to them to get a compliant product.”

As of May 3, 2023, all Marylanders 18 years of age and older must have documents on file and a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or identification card to board an airplane or enter a federal facility. Airport numbers continue to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic and are anticipated to continue to grow as we approach the summer months.

Obtaining a compliant REAL ID driver’s license or identification card with the REAL ID star in the upper right-hand corner requires one proof of age and identity, one proof of Social Security, and two proofs of Maryland residency on file with MDOT MVA. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the original deadline of October 1, 2020, was delayed, allowing states more time to assist residents come into compliance. Since then, many updates have gone into effect and the MDOT MVA has implemented new services to help Marylanders obtain a REAL ID.

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) modified requirements for obtaining a REAL ID after Congress passed the REAL ID Modernization Act. The Act provided an update to the original requirements, allowing residents who already have their Social Security number on file and verified with the MDOT MVA to fulfill the proof of Social Security requirement without presenting their Social Security card.  MDOT MVA also began a pilot program in March 2021 in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Division of Vital Records to allow Maryland-born customers visiting the Annapolis, Baltimore City, Essex, Frederick and Largo branch offices to request a certified copy of their birth certificate and have it printed onsite to fulfill the proof of identity requirement. To date, more than 1,500 customers have taken advantage of this added service.

“Over the last several years, MDOT MVA has implemented new services that make getting a REAL ID faster and easier than ever,” said MDOT Secretary Ports. “At nearly 87%, Maryland has one of the highest compliance rates in the nation, and we’re well positioned to have a seamless transition when the federal deadline takes effect.”

“The federal deadline will bring a significant change in how our passengers make their way through the airport,” said BWI Marshall Executive Director Smith. “Preparing ahead is the best way to ensure our passengers can continue to take their trips uninterrupted.”

REAL ID was passed by Congress after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In August 2019, MDOT MVA became the first state in nation to get recertified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, giving its stamp of approval for Maryland’s compliance with federal REAL ID requirements.

Marylanders are reminded that under a law passed in 2021, driver’s licenses can be renewed up to 12 months before the expiration date, providing customers greater time to renew. Marylanders can check their REAL ID status by entering a driver’s license or identification card number into the REAL ID Lookup Tool here. Customers can schedule an appointment for renewal or to present documents through their myMVA account.

To date, Maryland jurisdictions have reached the following compliance rates:

5-2-2022

WHAT:
Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary James F. Ports will join MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer and BWI Marshall Airport Executive Director Ricky Smith to announce the latest REAL ID compliance numbers for Maryland and new services available to residents; and to begin the one-year countdown to the federal REAL ID deadline. As of May 3, 2023, all Marylanders 18 years of age and older must have documents on file and a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or identification card to board an airplane or enter a federal facility.  

WHEN:         
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
3:30 p.m.

WHO:
James F. Ports, Secretary, MDOT
Christine Nizer, Administrator, MDOT MVA
Ricky Smith, Executive Director, BWI Marshall Airport

WHERE:       
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
International Art Gallery near checkpoint D/E
7050 Friendship Road
Baltimore, MD 21240

WHY:            
REAL ID was passed by Congress after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the original deadline of October 1, 2020, was extended, allowing states more time to assist residents come into compliance. Since then, many updates have gone into effect and the MDOT MVA has implemented new services to help Marylanders obtain their REAL ID. In August 2019, MDOT MVA became the first state in nation to get recertified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, giving its stamp of approval for Maryland’s compliance with federal REAL ID requirements.

Data will be used to improve technology aimed at preventing impaired driving

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (June 23, 2022) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) recently concluded its participation in a pilot program for technology designed to help keep impaired drivers off the road. The program, conducted in partnership with the Driven to Protect Initiative, collected on-road data to help improve alcohol detection technology that could be installed in future vehicles to make our roads safer.

Driven to Protect is a public-private partnership between the state and proponents of a new breath alcohol detection system known as the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety program. The program works by measuring the level of alcohol on a driver’s breath as they exhale naturally. Small sensors built inside vehicle panels analyze breath molecules using infrared light. If the driver’s breath alcohol level is above a certain range, the car won’t move. The sensor is programmable, from a zero-tolerance policy for teen drivers to a breath alcohol concentration of 0.08%, the legal limit.

In 2019, this technology was installed in eight MDOT MVA vehicles, including a demonstration vehicle that was used as an educational tool at safety and community events. The on-road pilot program provided valuable information on how the technology holds up to everyday wear and tear, changes in weather and other elements.

“Maryland has always used a comprehensive approach to address highway safety,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “We are committed to ending preventable fatalities on our roadways by influencing behavioral change, addressing roadway design and supporting the development of life-saving technology.”

At completion of the pilot program, MDOT MVA’s vehicles had collected 93,558 samples over 5,230 hours – despite the program being temporarily placed on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The data will help the manufacturer better understand wear and tear driving factors that affect sensor performance, and will help improve future iterations of the prototype sensors.

“Our MDOT MVA team constantly advocates for ways to save the lives of Marylanders and travelers across the nation,” said MDOT Secretary James F. Ports, Jr. “This pilot program resulted in real-world data showing how these sensors stand up to daily wear and tear. I’m proud of MDOT MVA’s role in another effort to promote highway safety.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers. This equates to an average of more than 10,000 people each year. Maryland averages more than 500 fatalities each year, one-third of them attributed to impaired driving.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute, implementation of alcohol detection technology could save approximately 9,400 lives annually. The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety research program is supported by the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, which represents the world’s leading automakers, as well as the NHTSA and MDOT.

| Available at Annapolis, Frederick and Largo branches in addition to Baltimore City and Essex; More than 1,300 customers have benefited from the service since 2021 launch

Glen Burnie, MD (March 30, 2022) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA), in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Division of Vital Records, has expanded its birth certificate printing service to three additional branches. Maryland-born customers can now request a certified copy of their birth certificate and have it printed onsite as proof of identity to acquire the federally-mandated REAL ID at the Annapolis, Frederick and Largo branch offices, in addition to the Baltimore City and Essex branch offices.

“We are so excited to expand this service to additional branch offices to allow more customers access to this convenient benefit,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer. “Maryland has one of the top REAL ID compliance rates in the nation at 86%, and since the partnership with the Department of Health began, this service has helped more than 1,300 Marylanders obtain their REAL ID status and a new copy of their birth certificate conveniently in one trip.”

The service began in March 2021 at the Baltimore City branch. Since then, more than 1,100 customers at that location and 200 customers in Essex have benefited from the partnership. MDH sets fees for certified birth certificate copies at $10. MDOT MVA does not collect any additional fees for this service and the customer will leave with a new copy of their birth certificate, as well as the MDOT MVA product they were there to obtain.

“MDOT MVA leads the way in forming meaningful partnerships with state agencies to offer Marylanders a one-stop shop for government services,” said MDOT Secretary James F. Ports, Jr.. “The birth certificate service is a huge convenience for customers obtaining their REAL ID and another way MDOT MVA is fulfilling its pledge to deliver premier customer service and Governor Hogan’s goal to provide a great customer experience.”

Customers are required to complete a driver license or identification card transaction to obtain a certified birth certificate at the MDOT MVA branches where this service is provided. The process to request a birth certificate at an MDOT MVA branch office was developed with the highest security standards. Customers verify personal information with one customer agent and provide payment to a second agent to ensure data privacy.

The federal REAL ID Act was passed by Congress after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. By May 3, 2023, all U.S. citizens must have a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or identification card to board commercial aircraft or gain access to federal facilities. In August 2019, MDOT MVA became the first in the nation to have its REAL ID process recertified by DHS, affirming Maryland’s compliance with the federal requirements.

Marylanders are encouraged to visit MVA.Maryland.gov and use the REAL ID Look Up Tool to learn their REAL ID status before making an appointment. For more information on REAL ID resources and other MDOT MVA services available online, visit our website mva.maryland.gov​.

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (April 25, 2022) -- Customers heading to a Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) Glen Burnie branch office Saturday, April 30, will be able to discard any unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs as the agency participates in the 22nd annual Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

As an agency focused on the safety of the public, MDOT MVA is committed to getting drugs out of the hands of vulnerable people and assisting those struggling with addiction to help keep our roadways and citizens safe. The opioid epidemic and the abuse of prescription drugs is a major issue affecting communities throughout Maryland and the nation, with prescription drugs ranking second to marijuana as the most common form of substance use in the U.S. According to the DEA, the majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends, and the home medicine cabinet.

Unused prescription drugs that are simply thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold, and unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Properly disposing of unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs saves lives and protects the environment. MDOT MVA is pleased to offer this alternative, and encourages citizens to use this convenient and responsible method to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications.

WHEN:
Saturday, April 30, 2022
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:
MDOT MVA Glen Burnie Branch Office
Building A
6601 Ritchie Highway
Glen Burnie, MD 21062

Beyond National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are other opportunities to regularly and safely dispose of unneeded medications at pharmacies, hospitals, police departments and businesses. All 23 Maryland State Police Barracks are equipped with secure drug collection boxes and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for unused medication drop off.

To learn more about Maryland’s initiative to combat opioid addiction visit: beforeitstoolate.maryland.gov.

For Third Year, GHSA and Responsibility.org Provide Grant to Increase Training for Cannabis Recognition and Impairment

GLEN BURNIE, MD (July 13, 2022) – For the third straight year, the nationwide Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, also known as Responsibility.org, have awarded the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office with a grant to support the state’s efforts to prevent motor vehicle crashes involving drug-impaired drivers.

Maryland is one of five states awarded grants to fund proven and innovative countermeasures to enhance identification and treatment of alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers. The nearly $21,500 grant will help fund advanced training and skill development for Maryland law enforcement agencies to detect drivers under the influence of drugs – specifically cannabis.

“We are honored to have been selected by GHSA and Responsibility.org for the third year to continue our work in Maryland to combat drug-impaired driving,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “It’s important we equip our law enforcement partners with the training and education to properly identify drug-impaired driving to ensure those motorists are stopped before they injure or kill someone.”

Between 2016 and 2020, an average of 30 people were killed and nearly 900 injured each year in Maryland crashes involving a driver impaired by drugs – including illicit drugs and medications. From 2017 through 2021, an average of 1,430 drug-impaired driving arrests were made annually by law enforcement officers in the state. Compared to 2012 to 2016, drug arrests increased by 44% in Maryland.

The grant will fund eight Cannabis Intoxication Impaired Driving Labs, which provide officers with training in a controlled setting on the signs and symptoms of cannabis impairment. Legalization of medical cannabis in Maryland and recreational use of cannabis in neighboring Virginia makes it imperative to train officers on how to detect cannabis impaired driving. The labs will be hosted by Chesapeake Region Safety Council, Maryland State Police and Montgomery County Police Department.

Through the training, the labs work with certified medical cannabis patients on a voluntary basis and perform National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, as well as additional Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement tests. Transportation is provided to and from the lab sites to ensure participants’ safety. New this year, the Chesapeake Region Safety Council and Montgomery County Police Department labs will have select volunteers consume a controlled combination of alcohol and cannabis to help law enforcement officials understand signs of impairment involving use of more than one substance at the same time – also known as polydrug substance use.

“Drug use increased during the pandemic as people looked for ways to cope, and we know that many of these individuals are also getting behind the wheel. It’s tragic and incredibly frustrating to see impaired driving crashes – which are preventable – kill people every day,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “We’re proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Responsibility.org to again fund proven countermeasures in Maryland to advance law enforcement detection of drug-impaired drivers.”

The past two years, GHSA and Responsibility.org awarded similar grants totaling nearly $95,000 to Maryland. Learn more about the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office’s commitment to zero deaths on Maryland roadways at ZeroDeathsMD.gov and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at zerodeathsmd.

Third ‘Bus Drivers’ Day’ Set for August 20 to Assist Systems Ahead of School Year

GLEN BURNIE, MD (August 10, 2022) – Maryland will implement a new, modernized commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills test beginning August 22 at all Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) branch offices statewide and at partner testing sites. In addition, MDOT MVA will host its third “Bus Drivers’ Day at the MDOT MVA” on Saturday, August 20, to help school districts statewide meet staffing requirements prior to the start of the school year.

The updated CDL skills test comes after Maryland was one of three states to participate in a pilot program through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) this past year. FMCSA has given MDOT MVA permission to expand the use of this new test statewide.

“Technology has evolved and improved since the last time the CDL test was reviewed,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “The new test evaluates an applicant’s knowledge based on updated vehicle features, and focuses on key skills needed to safety operate a commercial vehicle. The modernized test is another way the MDOT MVA is enhancing its services for CDL applicants while prioritizing safety.”

Applicants will need to pass the full CDL Skills Test – which includes the pre-trip inspection, basic control and a road test – to receive their CDL. Prospective applicants scheduled to take the test after August 22 are encouraged to review and study the updated Commercial Driver License Field Test Manual - PDF to prepare for each portion of the knowledge and driver skills test. If an applicant needs additional time to review the new CDL Skills Test, appointments can be rescheduled for a later date. In the case of a failed test, the CDL candidate must wait seven days before retaking the CDL Skills Test. The test must be retaken at the same branch location.

One of the changes in the CDL test involves the “pre-trip inspection” component, which will be reduced to around 50 items or less – depending on the vehicle – compared to the current requirement of more than 100 items. The inspection focuses on knowledge and safety, and contains items a driver would typically experience on the job.

In the basic control component, CDL applicants will be tested on four maneuvers to demonstrate control:

1. Forward Stop to demonstrate an applicant’s ability to judge the front of the vehicle.
2. Straight-Line Backing to demonstrate the applicant’s ability to back the vehicle in a straight line.
3. Forward Offset Tracking to demonstrate an applicant’s ability to maneuver the vehicle around other objects while moving forward.
4. Reverse Offset Backing to demonstrate an applicant’s ability to offset reverse and park the vehicle.

Once a CDL applicant obtains a license, they have access to an array of online services that makes maintaining their CDL status quick and easy through a myMVA account. CDL products now have an 8-year expiration date, the same as non-commercial licenses (with the exception of hazmat endorsements). CDL holders can submit their medical certificate electronically, and eligible customers can renew online. Additionally, CDL holders with a valid Medical Certificate and REAL ID documents on file can now order a correction or duplicate copy of their license through their myMVA account or at a 24-hour self-service kiosk.

2022 Bus Drivers’ Day

On Saturday, August 20, MDOT MVA will host its third “Bus Drivers’ Day at the MDOT MVA” to assist school districts statewide meet staffing requirements. MDOT MVA has been proactively reaching out to each school district statewide to help streamline appointment scheduling for bus driver trainees. The “Bus Drivers’ Day at the MDOT MVA” will be offered at the following branch offices, with appointments scheduled 7 a.m. to 12 noon, August 20:

• Bel Air – 501 W. MacPhail Road, Bel Air.
• Easton – 9148 Centreville Road, Easton.
• Frederick – 1601 Bowmans Farm Road, Frederick.
• Gaithersburg – 15 Metropolitan Grove Road, Gaithersburg.
• Glen Burnie – 6601 Ritchie Hwy., Glen Burnie.
• Largo – 10251 Central Ave., Upper Marlboro.
• Salisbury – 251 Tilghman Road, Salisbury.
• Waldorf – 11 Industrial Park Dr., Waldorf

Customers can schedule appointments to take the driver’s skills test, as well as the CDL learner’s permit test. School districts and/or applicants should email [email protected] to schedule an appointment. Please include your contact information, including phone number, driver’s license number, and availability to facilitate scheduling.

Customers who are planning to attend “Bus Drivers’ Day at the MDOT MVA” will be tested on the current CDL skills test - PDF and are asked to cancel any other existing CDL testing appointments in order to make those time slots available for other CDL applicants.

Marylanders can now add their Maryland Mobile ID to Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (May 25, 2022) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) today announced the launch of Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet, providing Marylanders with an easy, fast, and secure, digital version of their MDOT MVA-issued driver’s license or state ID card. Starting today, Maryland residents can choose to add their driver’s license or state identification (ID) card to Apple Wallet, and seamlessly and securely present it using iPhone or Apple Watch at select Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport security checkpoints, within Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).*

“Maryland is proud to be a leader once again in safe innovation with the implementation of Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet,” said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “As we look to the future, we are committed to enhancing convenience and accessibility while maintaining the highest safety and security standards for our state and citizens.”

Maryland is the second state to implement IDs in Apple Wallet, and Maryland Mobile ID is currently the only form of mobile phone-based identification issued by MDOT MVA. It is only available to individuals with a current, valid Maryland-issued driver’s license or ID and serves as a companion to the physical, plastic driver’s license or ID – it is not a replacement and Marylanders must continue to carry their physical driver’s license or ID with them.

“Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet offers additional security and privacy benefits than the physical state ID or driver’s license because Marylanders get to review the personal information they share with others, and use biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID to authorize it,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer. “Over time, we expect the locations accepting mobile ID to grow, but we are excited to partner with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to allow Maryland residents to present their Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet at participating airports.”

Following a digital driver’s license pilot conducted by the MDOT MVA in 2017, the launch of Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet is the next step in delivering on Governor Hogan’s customer service initiative and on MDOT MVA’s goal to provide the safest and most secure products for its customers.

How to add Maryland Mobile ID to Apple Wallet

To enroll and use Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet, Maryland residents must have a valid and easily readable Maryland driver’s license or ID card, as well as an iPhone 8 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later, with the latest version of iOS or watchOS. You must also live in Maryland and have your device set to United States.

Adding Maryland Mobile ID to Apple Wallet can be done in just a few simple steps. Maryland residents can tap the + button at the top of the screen in Apple Wallet on their iPhone, select “Driver’s license or State ID,” and follow the on-screen instructions to start the set-up and verification process.

How to Use Maryland Mobile ID at an Airport

At this time, Maryland Mobile ID is accepted only at select TSA terminals at participating airports around the country.

To use Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet at a TSA checkpoint, residents can simply tap their iPhone or Apple Watch near the identity reader. Residents’ devices will then display what information is being requested by the TSA, and only after authorizing with Face ID or Touch ID is the requested information released from a device. Since the information is shared digitally, residents do not need to hand over their iPhone or Apple Watch to present their Maryland Mobile ID.

Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet is Private and Secure

Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet is private and secure. Identity data is encrypted and helps protect against tampering and theft. When using Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet, neither Apple nor MDOT MVA have access to when or where a Maryland Mobile ID is presented.

In the instance that an iPhone or Apple Watch is lost or stolen, residents can use the “Find My” app to easily lock their device and help locate it or remotely erase their device. Additionally, biometric authentication using Face ID or Touch ID ensures the only person who added the ID to the device can view or present their ID or license in Apple Wallet.

Maryland Mobile ID and Maryland myMVA Account

Marylanders who would like to add Maryland Mobile ID to Apple Wallet are encouraged to sign up for a myMVA account. If additional verification is needed, customers can complete the process through their myMVA account. Customers can also remove their Maryland Mobile ID at any time through their account, as well as opt out of the service completely.

myMVA is unique to each customer and provides several other services, including driver’s license information and vehicle registration status. Customers can order replacement driver’s licenses or ID cards through myMVA should theirs be unreadable for Maryland Mobile ID.

To learn more visit https://mva.maryland.gov/Pages/MDMobileID_Apple.

*Travelers should refer to checkpoint signage to confirm availability.​

Offices and VEIP Stations will reopen Tuesday, July 5

GLEN BURNIE, MD (June 28, 2022) - The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) will close all branch offices and Vehicle Emission Inspection Program (VEIP) stations on Saturday, July 2 and Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. MDOT MVA branch offices will reopen for normal operations by appointment only Tuesday, July 5. VEIP testing will also resume Tuesday, July 5 and does not require an appointment.

MDOT MVA self-service VEIP kiosks, online services, and 24-hour kiosks will be available through the holiday. Customers are encouraged to sign up for a myMVA account to take advantage of the many services available online. With a myMVA account, customers can access their driver’s license information, check their vehicle registration status, view copies of any correspondence the MDOT MVA has sent to them, check their vehicle emissions inspection program deadlines and complete online services including:

• Duplicate/Additional Registration Cards,
• Insurance Information and Compliance Payments,
• Vehicle Title and Registration Applications,
• Vehicle Registration Renewals,
• Identification Card Renewals,
• Title Replacements,
• Disability Products,
• Change of Address,
• Driving Records,
• License Plate Purchase/Replacement,
• Temporary Registration,
• Information on Administrative Flag Fees,
• VEIP Test Date Extension,
• Driver’s License Renewals and
• Substitute Stickers.

In accordance with guidance issued by Governor Larry Hogan, MDOT MVA customers and staff are no longer required to wear masks at branch offices and VEIP stations statewide. Masks are strongly recommended for employees and visitors who are unvaccinated. For more information about MDOT MVA’s response to COVID-19 and additional resources, visit MVA.Maryland.gov.

All MDOT MVA branch offices and VEIP stations are closed on dates in accordance with the state holiday calendar. A complete list of closings can be found on our website.

Offices and VEIP Stations will reopen Tuesday, June 21

GLEN BURNIE, MD (June 16, 2022) - The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) will close all branch offices and Vehicle Emission Inspection Program (VEIP) stations Monday, June 20, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day. MDOT MVA branch offices will reopen for normal operations by appointment only Tuesday, June 21. VEIP testing will also resume Tuesday, June 21 and does not require an appointment.

MDOT MVA self-service VEIP kiosks, online services, and 24-hour kiosks will be available through the holiday. Customers are encouraged to sign up for a myMVA account to take advantage of the many services available online. With a myMVA account, customers can access their driver’s license information, check their vehicle registration status, view copies of any correspondence the MDOT MVA has sent to them, check their vehicle emissions inspection program deadlines and complete online services including:

• Duplicate/Additional Registration Cards,
• Insurance Information and Compliance Payments,
• Vehicle Title and Registration Applications,
• Vehicle Registration Renewals,
• Identification Card Renewals,
• Title Replacements,
• Disability Products,
• Change of Address,
• Driving Records,
• License Plate Purchase/Replacement,
• Temporary Registration,
• Information on Administrative Flag Fees,
• VEIP Test Date Extension,
• Driver’s License Renewals and
• Substitute Stickers.

In accordance with guidance issued by Governor Larry Hogan, MDOT MVA customers and staff are no longer required to wear masks at branch offices and VEIP stations statewide. Masks are strongly recommended for employees and visitors who are unvaccinated. For more information about MDOT MVA’s response to COVID-19 and additional resources, visit MVA.Maryland.gov.

All MDOT MVA branch offices and VEIP stations are closed on dates in accordance with the state holiday calendar. A complete list of closings can be found on our website.