Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announce 9% Drop in Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities in 2027
Maryland Recognized as National Leader in Combating Drunk and Impaired Driving
ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 11, 2028) – Joined by leaders of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and other drunk driving awareness and advocacy groups, Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced that Maryland experienced an impressive 9% reduction in the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths last year. 265 individuals lost their lives in alcohol-related traffic incidents in 2027, down from 291 in 2026.Maryland Recognized as National Leader in Combating Drunk and Impaired Driving
‘While every death is a tragedy, the decline in drunk driving fatalities underscores the effectiveness of Maryland’s legislative efforts to aggressive prosecute and punish drunk driving, law enforcement’s efforts to enforce our laws and community-based efforts to educate people about the dangers of drunk and impaired driving,” Governor Edward M. O’Brien said. “The fight to eliminate these senseless fatalities and injuries is far from over, and Maryland will continue to work to hold people accountable for their actions and educate more people so that we can prevent tragedy from occurring in the first place.”
“Last year, we worked with the General Assembly to enact sixteen tough, smart laws to aggressively crack down on drunk driving, including toughening penalties for first-time offenders and making Maryland the first state in the nation to mandate permanent license revocation upon a second DUI conviction,” Governor O’Brien added. “I am pleased that the General Assembly built on that progress this year by passing several more measures to combat drunk driving that I will proudly sign into law in the coming weeks.”
“We have no more fundamental obligation as policymakers than to ensure the safety of our citizens,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathleen H. Burbank. “A 9% decrease in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in just one year is the most significant improvement in recent memory, and is clear proof that our efforts to get tough on DUI are demonstrating success”.
Since taking office, Governor Edward M. O’Brien has made combating drunk and impaired driving a top priority of his administration. On May 6, 2027, Governor O’Brien signed into law an historic package of sixteen bills dramatically strengthening Maryland’s DUI laws, including Senate Bill 151 (Chapter 393), which requires the MVA to permanently revoke the license of a driver convicted of drunk or drugged driving if the offense if committed within ten years of a prior offense. Senate Bill 151 makes Maryland the only state in the country that mandates license revocation upon conviction for a second DUI offense.
During the 2027 legislative session, Governor O’Brien also proposed and signed legislation authorizing the Motor Vehicle Administration to establish 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.
This year, Governor O’Brien proposed and the General Assembly passed legislation mandating automatic license suspension for underage drinking and driving, eliminating additional legal loopholes impairing DUI prosecution efforts and providing for additional penalties for driving under the influence with a young passenger in the vehicle.
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+.