IMPAIRED DRIVING IN MARYLANDTHE FACTS
Maryland Impaired Driving Total and Injury Crashes, 2013-2017
9,000

Number of Crashes

8,000
7,000

6,627

6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000

2,088

2,000
1,000
0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Year
Injury Crashes

Total Crashes

Maryland Impaired Driving Fatal Crashes, 2013-2017
Number of Crashes

200

167

150
100
50
0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Year

•

1
2

Motor vehicle crashes are a huge threat to public health. Over the past decade, the number ofcrashes reported on the nation’s roadways has declined annually. However, motor vehicle
crashes continue to be a leading cause of death in the United States1. In 2016, approximately 7.3
million crashes were reported; approximately 44 percent resulted in an injury or fatality2.

CDC National Vital Statistics Reports – 10 Leading Causes of Death, United States, 2016
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts – Summary of Motor Vehicle Crashes DOT HS 812 580

2018 Maryland Impaired Driving Prevention Program Area Brief

1•Impaired driving trends are inconsistent. Between 2013 and 2017, the number of impaired
driving crashes in Maryland rose and fell. Since 2013, there appeared to be a downturn in thenumber of impaired-driving-related crashes reported annually.

•

Fatal crashes related to impaired-driving were slowly decreasing. Between 2013 and 2017,17,236 persons were either killed or injured in a crash where drugs and/or alcohol wereinvolved. From 2013 to 2017, the number of fatal crashes related to impaired driving decreased
and increased over the years. Statewide, overall fatal crashes have increased by twenty percent
since 2013.

•

Metropolitan areas have the highest concentration of impaired driving crashes3.
Approximately 95 percent all impaired driving crashes occurred within the Baltimore andWashington metropolitan areas, with 20 percent occurring in Prince George’s County.

Maryland impaired Driving Crashes,
2013-2017 by Region

60.0

50.6

Percentage

50.0

44.6

40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0

4.8

0.0
Baltimore Metropolitan

Washington Metropolitan

All others

Regional Areas
Source: Impaired Driving Benchmark Reports, Last updated July 2018•

Weekends and late evening hours have the highest number of impaired
crashes. Impaired driving crashes rise and fall throughout the year. Over56 percent of all impaired crashes occurred on a Friday, Saturday, or
early Sunday. Twice as many impaired driving crashes occurred on a
Saturday or early Sunday as did on a Monday. Crashes resulting in deathor injury were highest on Saturdays and Sundays (early morning hours).
Crashes begin to increase from 5 p.m. through the early morning hours
and see a dramatic fall after 3 a.m.

1 out of 2 impaired
drivers involved in a
motor vehicle crashwere 21–39 years

old.

3

Baltimore Metropolitan area is comprised of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties, andBaltimore City as designated by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. The Washington Metropolitan Area is defined
as Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George's Counties as designated by the Metropolitan Washington
Council of Governments.

2018 Maryland Impaired Driving Prevention Program Area Brief

2•Impaired drivers in their twenties were involved in a disproportionate number of crashes. Three out of
ten impaired drivers were 21–29 years old. Impaired drivers in their twenties were involved in nearly 35
percent of crashes resulting in an injury or death.

BACKGROUND
Maryland’s Fight Against Impaired Driving
Maryland proactively combats impaired driving through collaborative partnerships between Stateagencies, legislative and judicial leaders, regional authorities, local government agencies, andnongovernmental organizations. These partnerships strengthen and enforce impaired driving laws andhelp to educate the public about the dangers of impaired driving. Together these agencies have joined
forces to form Maryland’s Impaired Driving Emphasis Area Team. This team, made up of nearly 50
private and public members, help to address the complex issue of impaired driving by sharing
information, resources, and expertise on the education, health, enforcement, and judicial issues
surrounding impaired driving.

Ignition Interlock Program: What is it? How is it significant to the fight against drunk driving?
Ignition Interlock is a tool that helps to keep drunk drivers off our roads. It allows drivers to continue
driving -- but only when sober. An individual participating in the Ignition Interlock program can only
operate motor vehicles that are equipped with an ignition interlock device.
An ignition interlock device is an alcohol detection device that is connected to a vehicle’s ignition
system. The driver must blow into a mouthpiece connected to the device, allowing the device tomeasure the driver’s breath alcohol content (BAC). The device prevents the vehicle from starting if thedriver’s BAC registers greater than .025. The device also asks for additional retests while the vehicle is inmotion; however, it is not necessary to stop driving while taking a retest. The device also records
information about use that is reviewed by the Service Provider every thirty days.
If eligible, a driver may immediately opt-in – “elect” to participate in Maryland’s Ignition Interlock
Program instead of serving the Administrative Per Se suspension period (see Impaired Driving
Laws). “Opt-in” instructions can be found on the reverse side of the driver’s copy of the "Order ofSuspension."
For information on Maryland’s Ignition Interlock program, visit http://www.mva.maryland.gov/AboutMVA/INFO/26200/26200-14T.htm.

2018 Maryland Impaired Driving Prevention Program Area Brief

3

MARYLAND’S IMPAIRED DRIVING LAWS
Effective laws are essential to preventing the tragedies that result from impaired driving. Maryland has
enacted major changes to its impaired driving laws over the last several years, including increased
penalties and expansion of the ignition interlock program.
WHEN YOU ARE PULLED OVER AND AN OFFICER SUSPECTS ALCOHOL:
The officer will require you to submit to a field sobriety test and/or submit to blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) test. BAC is the amount (grams) of alcohol present in a 100 milliliter (ml) volume ofblood. For example, 80 mg is 0.08 grams, 0.08 grams of alcohol in 100 ml is written as 0.08%. This value
can also be described as 0.08 BAC. Above a certain BAC, you are legally considered impaired.
If you test above the legal limit for alcohol (0.08 BAC), or refuse an officer’s request to submit to achemical test for alcohol or drug use:•

You will be issued an Order of Suspension (form #DR-015A) along with your traffic citation(s).

•The police officer will confiscate your Maryland driver's license and may issue you a 45-day
temporary paper license.

For more information, see http://www.mva.maryland.gov/About-MVA/INFO/26100/26100-50T.htm.
IMPAIRED DRIVING CONVICTIONS
If you are convicted of an impaired driving offense, you face both criminal and administrative (license)
penalties and sanctions.
If you are convicted of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI):•

For a first offense, you face up to a $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail. Twelve (12) points will
be assessed on your driving record and your license may be revoked for up to six (6) months.

•

For a second offense, you face a $2,000 fine and up to two years of imprisonment (with amandatory minimum of five days). Twelve (12) points will be assessed on your license and yourlicense may be revoked for up to one year.

•

For two convictions within five years, a mandatory period of suspension will be followed by aminimum required period of participation in the Ignition Interlock Program.

•

You may be required to participate in an alcohol abuse assessment and program.

If you are convicted of Driving while Impaired by Alcohol (DWI):•

For a first offense, you face up to a $500 fine and up to two months of imprisonment. Eight (8)points will be assessed on your driving record, and you face a 6-month license suspension. If
this conviction is the result of a driver under 21, you will face a 1-year suspension.

•

For a second DWI offense, you face up to a $500 fine and up to one year of imprisonment. Eight(8) points will be assessed on your driving record, and you face a license suspension of 9 to 12
months. If this conviction is the result of a driver under 21, you will face a 2-year suspension.

The penalties are higher if you are transporting a minor at the time of the offense or for a third offense.
2018 Maryland Impaired Driving Prevention Program Area Brief

4

UNDERAGE DRINKING AND FAKE ID LAWS
If you are under 21 and found to have purchased, possessed or consumed alcohol, you face a fine of up
to $500 for your first offense and $1,000 for your second or subsequent offense.
Anyone under 21 who violates their alcohol restriction must agree to be automatically enrolled into theignition interlock program or face suspension. If assignment to the ignition interlock program is for asecond alcohol violation in five years, the duration of participation is determined by the number oftimes the individual has been assigned to interlock due to one of these violations.
•••If you are under 21 and in possession of a fake ID, you face:o A fine of up to $500
o Up to two months in prisono 12 points on your licenseo Driver’s license suspension or revocation
If you are caught selling fake IDs, you face:o A fine of up to $2,000 for each fake ID soldo Up to two years in jail for each fake ID soldo You are also subject to prosecution for violating federal and homeland security laws
If you are over 21 and knowingly furnish alcohol to a minor, you face:o A fine of up to $2,500 for the first violationo A fine of up to $5,000 for a second or subsequent violation

REPEAT OFFENDER
If you are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and you have had a prior driving under the
influence of alcohol or controlled dangerous substance violation within five years of the date of theviolation, your license will be suspended for one year followed by participation in the Ignition Interlock
Program for one year. You may, if eligible opt into the Program for one year in lieu of your suspension.
For more information, visit www.goo.gl/XXCqWA
NOAH’S LAW
The Drunk Driving Reduction Act of 2016, also known as 'Noah's Law,' requires drivers to enroll in
Maryland’s Ignition Interlock Program for the following convictions:••••

Driving under the influence (DUI);
Driving while impaired (DWI) while transporting a minor under the age of 16;
Driving while intoxicated with an initial breathalyzer test refusal; andHomicide or life-threatening injury by motor vehicle while DUI or DWI.

For more information on Noah’s Law, visit http://www.mva.maryland.gov/safety/mhso/programimpaired-driving-prevention.htm

2018 Maryland Impaired Driving Prevention Program Area Brief

5

MARYLAND’S IMPAIRED DRIVING PREVENTION PROGRAMS
Impaired Driving Enforcement Efforts••

The Maryland Highway Safety Office supports enforcement and education programs aimed atpreventing impaired driving. Below are a few highlights:oCheckpoint StrikeForce - Checkpoint StrikeForce, which is part of the national
driving mobilization, is a research-based, multi-state enforcement and public
outreach initiative designed to get impaired drivers off our roads using sobriety
checkpoints and saturation patrols when and where drunk driving is most likely tooccur. The initiative is intended to educate the public about dangers andconsequences of drunk driving and make the public aware of active enforcement
efforts taking place statewide and regionally.

oState Police Impaired Driving Effort (SPIDRE)- The SPIDRE team is a group of highly
trained MSP Troopers that conduct impaired driving enforcement initiatives across a“web” that spans jurisdictions primarily through the Baltimore and Washington
metropolitan areas. When the SPIDRE team enters assigned corridors, they work inconcert with that jurisdiction’s allied police agencies, ensuring a coordinated andcollaborative approach to apprehending impaired drivers, which has proven wildly
successful. The team uses the High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) model, pairing
enforcement efforts with media. In FFY 2014, advertisements were featured on
billboards, transit shelters and targeted gas pumps, as well as, radio and digitalcomponents in areas where the team was deployed. On July 2, 2014, state officials
and law enforcement partners hosted a press event to highlight the one-year
anniversary of Maryland’s SPIDRE team.

Alternative Transportation Programs
The Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s (WRAP) WRAP’s free safe ride service to prevent
drunk driving in the Washington-metropolitan area, SoberRide® is served by new ridesharing
partner, Lyft; and is exclusively accessible via Lyft’s mobile app platform. SoberRide® serves
both Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Should a person under the influence need asafe ride home during targeted holidays and special events, the SoberRide® program provides
them with a reliable option.

•

Anne Arundel, Harford St. Mary’s & Howard County District Courts – DUI/Drug Courts
The DUI/Drug Court is designed to address high-risk individuals over the age of 18 who havebeen charged with multiple DUI/DWI’s, offering them a highly intensive monitoring andrehabilitative treatment program. Eligible individuals will have a prior history of DUI or DWI
convictions, no pending sentences, or warrants, and will not currently be on parole orprobation. The program diverts offenders from long periods of incarceration and focuses ontreatment and providing lifelong tools to avoid alcohol misuse, abuse and addiction that lead todrunk driving. Maryland continues to work with the Maryland Office of Problem Solving Courts
to expand the program in other high-risk jurisdictions.

2018 Maryland Impaired Driving Prevention Program Area Brief

6

WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT IMPAIRED DRIVING IN MARYLANDMARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION•

Contact: MDOT MVA’s Press Information at 410-762-5188

MARYLAND STATE POLICE - Maryland DUI Laws, Intoximeter, Standardized Field Sobriety Testing• Media Communications at (410) 653-4343
MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING - Maryland DUI legislation, Victims Impact Panel, Sobriety
Checkpoints, DUI Court Monitoring•

Maryland Chapter of MADD at (410)-964-5757
www.madd.org

WASHINGTON REGIONAL ALCOHOL PROGRAM - Business Outreach, SoberRide® Program, Advocacy,
Public Education•

Washington Regional Alcohol Program at (703)-893-0461
www.wrap.org

2018 Maryland Impaired Driving Prevention Program Area Brief

7