MARYLAND ( DC News Now ) — Maryland State Police (MSP) said troopers will increase its highway safety patrols over the next two weeks as millions prepare to travel for the holiday season.
In response, all 23 barracks will conduct patrols and checkpoints focused on impaired, aggressive and distracted driving. The State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) team, a special unit of trained troopers who are focused on identifying impaired drivers, will also be out patrolling.
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MVA) safety office, 537 people have lost their lives in crashes on Maryland roads and thousands have been injured.
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State police said the most common causes of these crashes are impairment, distraction, speed and aggressive driving which were preventable.
With AAA expecting 2.5 million travelers to hit the road during the 2024 year-end holiday travel period, MSP encourages Marylanders to drive safely and do the following: