WASHINGTON — More Maryland drivers may soon be able to participate in a program aimed at taking drunk drivers off the roads.
On Friday, Gov. Larry Hogan announced proposed regulations that will allow drivers with lower blood alcohol levels to participate in Maryland’s Ignition Interlock program. The program uses a device that prevents a car from started when it detects a certain level or alcohol on the driver’s breath.
Under the current laws, drivers who register a .15 blood alcohol level or higher are allowed to opt-in to the program and keep their license without having an administrative hearing. Under the proposed regulations, drivers who register .08 to. 15 can opt-in to the program, too.
In the U.S., a blood alcohol level of .08 is the legal limit for driving under the influence.
“Our administration is committed to protecting all Marylanders by taking the common sense steps that will help to prevent drunk driving,” Gov. Hogan said in a statement. “These proposed regulations will make our roads and communities safer by ensuring that past drunk driving offenders cannot start their car after they have been drinking.”
There are about 11,000 participants in Maryland’s ignition interlock program, but the hope is that changing the standards will result in an increase in participants and fewer administrative hearings.
The move will help Maryland meet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s standards on ignition interlock devices.
Maryland sees an average of more than 7,800 impaired driving crashes annually — 170 of which results in deaths.
“Every life lost is one too many,” Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn said in a statement. “Expanding Ignition Interlock is a giant step forward in eliminating impaired driving fatalities on Maryland’s highways!”
