Maryland officials are urging drivers to pay extra attention to safety during what is known as the “100 deadliest days of summer.” As summer travel season begins, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MVA) Highway Safety Office and the Maryland State Police caution drivers to prioritize safety on the roadways. The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are known as the deadliest of the year, since this is when traffic crashes and road fatalities historically increase nationwide. During these summer months, drivers in Maryland can expect to see high-visibility enforcement, DUI saturation patrols, and public outreach efforts to deter dangerous driving to help keep the roadways safe. Efforts will include troopers from all 23 Maryland State Police barracks, including the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) team, and law enforcement agencies across the state. Highway in Arnold, MD. Photo via Maryland Department of Transportation’s Facebook page. “Summer travel means more vehicles on the road, more celebrations and unfortunately, more preventable crashes,” said Chrissy Nizer, Motor Vehicle Administrator and Governor Wes Moore’s Highway Safety Representative. “We want every Marylander to enjoy their summer safely by making responsible choices behind the wheel including planning ahead for a sober ride, avoiding distractions, obeying speed limits and always buckling up.” So far in 2026, troopers have stopped more than 2,000 drivers they suspected of driving while impaired, with the specialized troopers removing an additional 333 from the roadways in areas with high rates of impaired driving crashes, especially in the Baltimore and Washington metro regions. Troopers cited 1,600 drivers going 30 or more miles per hour over the posted speed limit and 350 drivers exceeding 100 miles per hour. “In partnership with our law enforcement and highway safety partners, we are committed to ensuring every person who travels our roadways arrives at their destination safely,” said Colonel Michael A. Jackson, superintendent of the Maryland State Police. “Summer should be a season of making memories with family and friends, not tragedy on our highways. We urge motorists to obey the speed limit, never drive impaired, and remain alert, especially in work zones.” In the last five years in Maryland, nearly 800 people have been killed in crashes involving impaired drivers and nearly 15,000 people have been injured. Speeding, distracted driving, and aggressive driving are also leading causes of serious and fatal car crashes during the summer months. To reduce risk, the MVA and Maryland State Police encourage drivers to always designate a sober driver or use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft if consuming alcohol or drugs. Other safety tips include always wearing a seatbelt, following posted speed limits, slowing down and/or changing lanes when there is a stopped or standing car or vehicle with warning lights blinking, and staying off the phone. Pedestrians should use marked crosswalks whenever they can and wear bright or reflective clothes at night. The Maryland Department of Transportation’s Serious About Safety initiative spells out many of these tips and more, along with providing other safety information for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. ...read more read less