With Cinco de Mayo celebrations imminent, the Montgomery County agencies are proactively addressing the issue of drunk driving, which historically spikes during the holiday. The Department of Transportation, the Police Department, and Alcohol Beverage Services have united to implore residents who plan to imbibe to do so responsibly and to arrange for a safe ride home. The MCDOT Director Chris Conklin cautioned about the dangers of intoxicated driving, "According to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, over a third of U.S. traffic deaths on Cinco de Mayo involve drunk drivers," as per the Montgomery County government’s news portal.
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) plans to boost patrols to detect and deter impaired driving, further stressing the importance of life-saving vigilance. "Drunk driving deaths are 100% preventable," said Conklin. Montgomery's Police Chief, Marc Yamada, also stressed preparedness, stating, "Our officers will be proactively on patrol during Cinco de Mayo working to keep our roads safe, but safety starts with each of us by making responsible decisions," according to the same source.
Several options have been made available to support safe celebration choices, such as the SoberRide program, which offers free rides home via a partnership with Lyft for adults 21 or older. This service kicks off at 4 PM on the day of the holiday and extends into the early hours of the following day. Another alternative for party-goers is the MCDOT Ride On bus service, which has an affordable $1 fare.
Regarding long-term solutions, Montgomery County has been promoting its Vision Zero initiative, which lists year-round safe ride services. Maryland drivers caught under the influence could face serious repercussions, such as loss of license, hefty fines, and imprisonment. Further amplifying their strategy to reduce road risks, local businesses are recurrently trained by ABS to prevent alcohol sales to the visibly intoxicated or minors. Kathie Durbin, ABS Director, explained their educational role, "We provide free training to businesses and their employees even before they get a license," from the Montgomery County government news release.
