Maryland Takes New Steps to Prevent Holiday Tragedies

GLEN BURNIE, MD (December 11, 2025)
- As Marylanders prepare for holiday festivities, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) today announced new regulations that strengthen the state's Ignition Interlock Program. In Fiscal Year 2025, Maryland's Ignition Interlock Program prevented nearly 3,100 attempts to start or operate a vehicle where the driver's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was greater than 0.08 - the legal limit in Maryland. The updates better align the regulations with the program's core purpose: helping motorists who have received a Probation Before Judgment or been convicted of impaired driving to continue driving legally while reducing the likelihood of future impaired-driving incidents.

Previously, program participants who had more than three months with at least one violation for attempting to start their vehicle with a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.025 or higher were removed from the program and faced suspension or revocation of their driver's license. Under the updated regulations, the MVA may instead extend a participant's program time by 30 days. If the violation occurs within the final three months of the participant's scheduled completion date, the MVA may extend their time in the program by 90 days.

"Safety is everyone's responsibility and making safe choices will save lives this holiday season," said Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle. "As we enter one of the most dangerous times of the year for impaired-driving crashes, these changes help reinforce responsibility and keep people safe. If you plan to drink or use cannabis, plan ahead - use a rideshare service, taxi, designated driver or public transportation. Driving impaired is unacceptable and never worth the risk."

The holiday season is one of the deadliest times of the year for crashes involving alcohol and drug impairment, and officials are reminding residents that driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or any impairing substance is both dangerous and illegal and puts everyone on the road at risk.

"The Ignition Interlock Program is designed to support accountability and rehabilitation for individuals who have been involved in impaired-driving offenses," said Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Wes Moore's Highway Safety Representative. "By allowing continued participation in ignition interlock with appropriate extensions, we reinforce the safeguards that prevent a vehicle from starting when a driver shouldn't be behind the wheel, while keeping the focus on long-term behavior change."

Recognizing and Reporting Dangerous or Potentially Impaired Drivers

Maryland motorists play an important role in keeping roadways safe. Knowing what to look for, and how to respond safely, can help prevent crashes and save lives.

Signs of a potentially impaired or dangerous driver may include:

• Swerving, drifting, or weaving within or between lanes
• Driving significantly below the speed limit
• Sudden braking or stopping without cause
• Failure to maintain headlights at night
• Wide turns, or nearly striking curbs, medians or other vehicles
• Ignoring traffic signals, stop signs or right-of-way rules
• Slow response to changing traffic conditions

How to report safely - without putting yourself at risk:

• Keep a safe distance. Do not attempt to follow, confront or stop the driver.
• Pull over to a safe location before making a call. Never use a phone while driving.
• Dial 9-1-1, or #77 and provide as much detail as possible, including:
  · Vehicle make, model and color
  · License plate number (if safely visible)
  · The direction of travel and roadway
  · Specific driving behaviors you observed
• Let law enforcement handle the situation. Once reported, do not attempt to intervene.

This effort aligns with MDOT's Serious About Safety initiative, which emphasizes shared responsibility and proactive choices to prevent crashes and save lives on Maryland roadways.

For more information on impaired driving prevention and safe travel tips, visit ZeroDeathsMD.gov/impaired​ and on Facebook, X and Instagram at ZeroDeathsMD.