The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2014, over the 4th of July holiday (6 p.m. July 3rd to 5:59 a.m. July 7th), 164 people were killed in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Those preventable deaths make up 41% of the 397 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the 4th of July period.
The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Maryland State Police, will conduct enhanced impaired driving initiatives surrounding the 4th of July holiday, extending from Friday, July 1 through Monday, July 4, 2016.
The efforts include increased patrols throughout the weekend. Officers will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment, in addition to other traffic infractions.
The 4th of July holiday is a time to celebrate with family, friends, food and fireworks, but all too often the festivities turn tragic on the nation's roads. The fact is, this iconic American holiday is also one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to drunk-driving crashes.
