O'Brien-Hurson for Maryland

Moving Maryland Forward: Improving Highway Safety

Governor O’Brien has made improving traffic safety issues a priority for his administration and has actively supported legislation to reduce fatalities on our state’s highways. Since 2026, the number of traffic fatalities on Maryland highways has declined by 11.8 percent, with alcohol-related traffic fatalities dropping by 15.8 percent.

Specifically, Governor O’Brien has:

• Signed historic legislation requiring the MVA to permanently revoke the license of a driver convicted of drunk or drugged driving if the offense is committed within ten years of a prior offense. Maryland remains the only state in the country that mandates license revocation upon conviction for a second DUI offense;
• Created an Ignition Interlock System Program for DUI offenders;
• Enacted John’s Law, which prohibits a person who is arrested for specified alcohol- or drug-related offenses from driving a motor vehicle for a specified period after their arrest, and signed legislation mandating consecutive (rather than concurrent) sentences for repeat offenders;
• Signed legislation reforming probation before judgment for DUI offenders;
• Signed legislation establishing increased penalties for driving under the influence with a young passenger in the vehicle;
• Increased penalties for traffic offenses committed in highway work zones;
• Enhanced penalties for aggressive and reckless driving;
• Proposed and signed a primary seatbelt law, which has increased Maryland’s seatbelt usage rate from 75% to 88%;
• Proposed and signed legislation imposing mandatory suspension of the license of a driver under the age of 21 who violates alcohol- and/or drug-related provisions;
• Signed legislation increasing the number of points required to be assessed by the Motor Vehicle Administration against an individual convicted of failing to stop a vehicle as directed by a traffic control signal displaying a steady red light;
• Increased the penalty for those individuals convicted of a second or subsequent offense of driving while under the influence of any drug, combination of drugs, or combination of one or more drugs and alcohol or of driving while under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance from not more than two months to not more than one year;
• Doubled fines for speeding in a school zone;
• Signed legislation authorizing a police officer to conduct a warrantless arrest for an individual driving without a license;
• Established Highway Safety Corridors featuring enhanced penalties for speeding and other moving violations along particularly dangerous highway corridors;
• Launched the Road Rage Vans initiative to strengthen aggressive driving enforcement efforts;
• Signed legislation increasing criminal penalties for refusing to subject to a blood alcohol content test;
• Signed legislation increasing criminal penalties for failing to remain at the scene of an accident;
• Signed legislation increasing from four to six months the period of time before a holder of an instructional permit can apply for a provisional driver’s license is lengthened to five months;
• Signed legislation prohibiting the holder of a provisional driver's license who is a minor from transporting individuals under the age of 18 years as passengers;
• Signed legislation prohibiting the holder of a learner’s instructional permit or provisional driver’s license from using a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle; and
• Signed legislation strengthening driving practice requirements for individuals who hold a learner’s driving permit.

In November 2027, Maryland was the only state in the country to receive an "A" grade from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for its laws and initiatives to combat drunk and impaired driving. Only three other states, Florida, North Carolina and Utah, received an "A-" ranking. The overall grade for the United States was C+.