As the summer travel season kicks off, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is preparing for a surge of travelers on the state’s roads over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. With millions expected to hit the highways, MDOT is urging travelers to make safety their top priority.
Record Numbers on the Roads According to projections from AAA, a record 44 million Americans will travel during the Memorial Day period, marking a 4% increase from 2023. Of those, an unprecedented 38.4 million are forecast to drive to their destinations, while air travel is anticipated to rise nearly 5% to 3.5 million passengers.
Prioritizing Road Safety To help ensure safe travels, MDOT and the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office are emphasizing several key safety tips:
- Avoid distractions like cell phones, eating, or fiddling with audio controls behind the wheel. Designate a passenger to handle any non-driving tasks.
- Allow plenty of time, drive at reasonable speeds, and be patient, as roads will be congested.
- Never drive impaired by alcohol or drugs. Plan ahead for a sober ride home if drinking is involved.
- Buckle up – all vehicle occupants must wear seat belts per Maryland law. Police statewide will be cracking down on seat belt violations through June 4th as part of the Click It or Ticket campaign.
- Obey the Move Over law by changing lanes for stopped emergency/service vehicles displaying flashing lights. If unable to change lanes, slow down significantly.
Suspending Lane Closures To facilitate smoother traffic flow, MDOT’s State Highway Administration will suspend all non-emergency lane closures from 3 pm Friday, May 24th through 9 am Tuesday, May 28th. Additional CHART (Coordinated Highways Action Response Team) patrols will be on duty to assist disabled vehicles and clear incidents quickly.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Traffic The heaviest traffic volumes are expected at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, with over 330,000 vehicles projected to cross between Friday and Monday. MDOT has issued recommended times to avoid peak traffic in both the eastbound and westbound directions.
MDOT asks that drivers remain on US 50 and obey overhead lane signals near the bridge to allow local roadways to stay clear for emergency responders. All tolls will be collected electronically via E-ZPass, Pay-by-Plate, or video tolling.
With millions taking to Maryland’s roads, highways and bridges this Memorial Day weekend, MDOT and state officials are working to maximize safety and keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible during this busy holiday travel period.