With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Montgomery County officials are issuing a stern warning to anyone planning to indulge in the holiday's festive spirits: Don't drink and drive. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), alongside the County's Police and Alcohol Beverage Services, is ramping up enforcement to tackle anticipated spikes in impaired driving, particularly on the night before Thanksgiving—infamously known as a peak time for drinking.
With an expectation for record numbers of vehicles hitting the roads, MCDOT Director Chris Conklin advised revelers to make transportation plans that don't involve getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or cannabis. "We expect to see a record number of drivers on the road this year, and that, along with the early evening darkness and an increase in alcohol consumption, can lead to deadly consequences," Conklin stated, as reported by Montgomery County’s news release. He encouraged the use of the zero-fare Ride On buses for safe traveling.
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) isn't taking any chances, either. Coinciding with the holiday season, a "Holiday Task Force" will be deployed to keep an eye out for impaired drivers, employing sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols that started on November 19 and will continue through January 10, 2026. According to an interview with MCPD Chief Marc Yamada, "Our Holiday Task Force will be out in full force to identify and stop impaired drivers, because these collisions are entirely preventable." Last year, this initiative led to the arrest of 238 drivers and issued 2,773 citations, as per Montgomery County’s news release.
Montgomery County Department of Alcohol Beverage Services emphasizes proactive measures as well, with director Kathie Durbin remarking, "Our licensed businesses are trained not to overserve and to recognize the signs of intoxication." This combined effort between regulatory authorities and local businesses aims to ensure a secure environment for all community members during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Those seeking alternative ways to get home can check the County’s Vision Zero website for local safe rides. For further details about Montgomery County's traffic safety initiatives, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the official MCDOT website and stay updated via their social media platforms on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram.
