PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County authorities are intensifying efforts to curb impaired driving as summer ends and Labor Day approaches, emphasizing that operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol or cannabis puts all road users at risk. The Calvert County Traffic Safety Council and Sheriff’s Office issued a reminder on August 14, 2025, aligning with the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, urging residents to designate sober drivers and report suspected impaired motorists to 911 while always wearing seatbelts.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2023 shows 511 fatalities in crashes during the Labor Day holiday period, including 117 motorcyclists, with 36% involving a drunk driver. Among those motorcyclist deaths, 27% stemmed from drunk driving crashes. For drivers aged 18 to 34 killed in such incidents, 45% had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. These figures underscore the heightened dangers during holiday weekends, when travel surges and celebrations often involve alcohol.
In Maryland, impaired driving remains a persistent issue, with 563 traffic-related deaths in 2023, showing no decline from the prior year. Statewide, impaired crashes spiked during evening hours from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., and one in 42 impaired-involved crashes resulted in a fatality in 2021, comprising 29% of all fatal incidents. For 2024, Maryland reported 348 fatalities year-to-date as of August 14, compared to 275 in 2025, indicating fluctuating but ongoing risks. Locally in Calvert County, impaired driving arrests fluctuated from 582 in 2019 to 604 in 2020 and 452 in 2021, per the county’s Strategic Roadway Safety Plan. The plan, adopted in 2023, targets reductions in crashes through enforcement, education and awareness.
The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over initiative, enforced nationwide from August 13 to September 1, focuses on deterring drunk driving with increased patrols. In 2023, 30% of U.S. traffic fatalities involved alcohol-impaired drivers, and during Labor Day weekend, 35% of 311 driver deaths linked to impairment, with 62% at BAC levels of .15 or higher. Campaign tips include planning sober rides in advance, intervening if someone attempts to drive impaired and ensuring seatbelt use, as it offers the best protection against such drivers. Maryland law sets .08 BAC as the drunk driving threshold, matching most states except Utah’s .05. Impairment effects begin at .02 BAC with visual declines and escalate to severe control issues at .15.
Calvert County’s Traffic Safety Council, reinstated in 2023 alongside the Strategic Roadway Safety Plan for 2023-2025, convenes representatives from county government, the Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police to tackle highway safety. The plan addresses emphasis areas like aggressive driving, impaired driving, occupant protection and vulnerable road users, aiming to cut crash frequency and severity via directed patrols, programs and initiatives. In 2024, the county partnered with the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse for a Designated Driver Campaign from December 1, 2023, to January 2, 2024, promoting sober alternatives during holidays.
Recent enforcement in Calvert County highlights the issue’s prevalence. On August 13, 2025, a Virginia man faced firearm and DUI charges at Maryland International Raceway after deputies found him impaired with loaded guns. In March 2025, a Lusby woman received an eight-year sentence, with 60 days active, for DUI and child neglect after driving impaired with minors. June 2025 saw a Prince Frederick woman convicted of impaired driving and child endangerment, receiving probation before judgment. Earlier, in April 2025, Huntingtown High School hosted a mock crash event to educate students on DUI consequences, involving local responders. A January 2025 high-speed chase ended in arrest for a stolen vehicle, with impairment suspected.
Maryland’s broader context shows 48.1% of Calvert County survey respondents in 2023 viewing alcohol and substance misuse as top health concerns. The state’s 2024 Highway Safety Improvement Program reported 158 impaired driving emphasis area crashes, part of efforts to lower rates. Calvert’s age-adjusted hospitalization rate for adult alcohol use stood at 13.5 per 10,000 population 18 and older. With young drivers at risk — Maryland averages 19 annual deaths for ages 16-20 in crashes, 58% involving young operators — education remains key.
The Sheriff’s Office vows continued DUI checkpoints and patrols, as announced in prior years. Residents can access more via the NHTSA site. As Labor Day nears, these measures aim to prevent tragedies in Calvert County, where roads like Route 4 see heavy traffic.