The Maryland State Police are among the law enforcement agencies in the state this month who are participating in an initiative to raise additional awareness about aggressive driving.
Troopers are participating in the state’s ADAPT – Aggressive Drivers Are Public Threats – initiative. The ADAPT Program is an aggressive driving enforcement campaign designed to curb dangerous behaviors and make Maryland roads safer for everyone.
ADAPT combines education and law enforcement as part of Maryland’s Toward Zero Deaths program, which is charting the course to reach the goal of zero roadway fatalities.
Among the highlights for troopers during the initiative, which runs from Jan. 18 to 27:
- The Golden Ring Barrack concentrated on educating the public and enforcing Maryland’s “Move Over” laws during an initiative from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday along Interstate 83 near Shawan Road in Baltimore County. The effort resulted in 140 traffic stops, 68 citations (53 Move Over citations) and 82 warnings (77 Move Over warnings).
- The College Park Barrack conducted 47 traffic stops and issued 15 citations and 39 warnings between 2 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Prince George’s County.
- The College Park Barrack, along with Prince George’s County Police conducted an aggressive driving enforcement effort from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 17 along I-495 and US 50. A total of 53 traffic stops were conducted, which resulted in the issuance of 42 citations and 44 warnings while also serving two arrest warrants.
- The Bel Air Barrack conducted 29 traffic stops and issued 15 citations and 27 warnings between noon and 2 p.m. on Tuesday on Route 40 between the Baltimore County line and MD-543 in Harford County. The Bel Air Barrack conducted a similar enforcement initiative from noon to 6 p.m. on Jan. 18 on MD 24 near Ring Factory Road and on US 1 near MD-543. During this initiative, troopers conducted 60 traffic stops and issued 29 citations and 41 warnings
According to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, aggressive driving accidents dropped from about 6,000 in 2011 to 3,311 in 2015. However, the MVA has reported an increase in such crashes recently with there being 4,526 aggressive driving-related crashed in 2017.
The MVA also reported that four out of five aggressive drivers are males, and they were responsible for 58 percent of aggressive driving-related crashes. Also, in the last five years, more than 85 percent of crashes due to aggressive behaviors in Maryland happened in the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas.
Aggressive driving violations involve a combination of behaviors that endanger people or property. Maryland law dictates that at least three of the following are observed:
- Traffic light violations.
- Overtaking and passing another vehicle.
- Passing on the right.
- Driving on a laned roadway.
- Tailgating, or following another driver too closely.
- Failing to yield when other drivers have the right-of-way.
- Exceeding the speed limit.
For aggressive driving violations, motorists will receive five points on their license and a $370 fine.
