The Maryland State Police have announced an intensive road safety campaign to coincide with the upcoming Labor Day weekend, urging motorists to avoid impaired, distracted, and aggressive driving. This year’s initiative, running from August 30 to September 2, involves saturation patrols by state troopers from all 23 barracks, focusing on detecting and preventing dangerous driving behaviors.
In a concerted effort to curb alcohol-related incidents, the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) team, specially trained to spot signs of impaired driving, will be actively patrolling throughout the state. This initiative is supported by funding from the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office, which aims to enhance the effectiveness of the enforcement actions.
Maryland State Police are placing particular emphasis on eradicating impaired, aggressive, and distracted driving, collaborating with other law enforcement bodies and state agencies. The campaign will see troopers deployed in strategic locations known for higher incidences of traffic violations and accidents:
- Eastern Region: Enforcement will be heightened along major routes such as 50, 301, 13, and 413 with DUI checkpoints primarily managed by troopers from the Berlin, Centreville, Easton, Princess Anne, and Salisbury barracks.
- Central Region: Troopers based in College Park, Forestville, Golden Ring, Rockville, Waterloo, and Westminster will monitor traffic on interstates 495, 70, and 695.
- Western Region: The focus will be on interstates 68, 220, 70, and Route 219, with troopers from the Cumberland, Frederick, Hagerstown, and McHenry barracks leading the operations.
- Northern Region: Patrols will increase along routes 22, 24, 40, 1, and 213 in Harford and Cecil counties, areas notorious for impaired driving incidents. The Bel Air Barrack will also collaborate with the Harford County Traffic Task Force to bolster local efforts.
- Southern Region: The Annapolis, Glen Burnie, La Plata, Leonardtown, and Prince Frederick barracks will execute DUI saturation patrols on Route 50 and interstates 695 and 97. Additionally, the deployment of the Maryland State Police Mobile Breath Alcohol Testing truck will aid in identifying and removing impaired drivers from the roads.
The Maryland State Police encourage all residents and visitors to remain vigilant and drive safely, ensuring a pleasant and safe Labor Day weekend for everyone involved.