Groups Urging People to Avoid Driving Impaired

(SALISBURY, Md) – Christmas is here and New Year’s isn’t far behind, and several groups are urging for people to celebrate responsibly and not get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking.

The number of impaired drivers in Maryland during recent holiday seasons has been staggering according to local health officials.

“In the last five years, we’ve had about 800 deaths related to impaired driving crashes. And thousands more have been injured. So it’s really it is a concern,” says Kirsten Hurley with the Dorchester County Health Department.

During that same time frame, over one thousand citations were written for impaired driving, with one in three offenders being between the ages of 25 and 39 years old.

It’s why national advocates like Tammy McGee tell WMDT they are pushing for people to make the right call.

McGee tells WMDT, “We want you to be responsible and realize that the difference between a $20 or $30 rideshare versus a $20,000 DUI or a death of someone? Don’t be the person that causes that tragedy for someone else.”

And if you can’t get behind the wheel, there are effective solutions.

Kirsten says “If you know that you’re going to be going to a function where you could potentially have this concern, just having that backup plan of, hey, I don’t feel comfortable driving, you know, if you can stay where you are, if you’re with relative or a friend and you just want to stay.”

While Tammy tells us, “You can, from your phone, actually call an Uber or Lyft or a cab. You can actually be prepared ahead of time and plan for that designated driver. So there’s no excuse for anybody to be out on our roads drinking…”

The Dorchester County Health Department always encourages people to choose a designated driver.