Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – New traffic laws went into effect in Maryland Sunday. One law increased the maximum jail time from three to five years for a driver who kills a person while under the influence of a controlled substance. Repeat offenders would spend up to 10 years behind bars, up from five.
“Unfortunately while we are seeing alcohol related fatalities somewhat level out, or in many cases across the country, decrease, tragically we’re seeing an increase in drug driving fatalities,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Ragina Averella.
The Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility Study showed that 2015 was the first year when 43 percent of drivers tested in fatal crashes in 2015 had used a legal or illegal drug, compared to 37 percent who tested above the legal limit for alcohol.
AAA Mid-Atlantic is hosting drugged driving summits to educate people as the state and country are experiencing an opioid epidemic.
Averella said the jury’s out on whether the extra two years of jail time will be a deterrent, but they hope it will be.
The other new law that went into effect Sunday allows registered tow truck drivers to use HOV lanes while responding to service calls, even if the driver is the only person in the vehicle.
The purpose of the new law is to get disabled drivers off the road quickly and to keep traffic flowing.
These drivers need permission from Maryland State Police to use the HOV lanes. Averella said the details of how that will work are still being ironed out, but she thinks registered tow truck drivers will likely be given letters in advance that will give them permission to use the HOV lane when necessary.
