With Memorial Day weekend quickly approaching, the deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) says that travelers around the state need to expect massive amounts of travelers when they hit the roads. According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, 834,000 residents of Maryland will travel this upcoming holiday weekend. That’s an increase of 2.3 percent from last year and the highest number for Memorial Day weekend since 2005.
About 250,000 people are expected to hit the town of Ocean City, according to its mayor. He said the weather looks good this weekend, and advance reservations are strong.
The deputy secretary of MDOT says that patience is of utmost importance this weekend. Tailgating, he said, is the main reason for motor vehicle accidents on the bay bridge.
Operation Showboat is the Maryland State Police’s name for their increased presence on the roadways this week and into the weekend. They are targeting distracted and aggressive drivers. In addition, speeding is high on their list of offenses to watch for while on patrol. Routes 301, 50 and 13 are areas where enforcement will be high.
Work zones should also be areas where drivers are paying close attention to what is going on around them. There are more than 900 road construction projects in effect right now. That is largest in the history of the state. All road work that is considered non-emergency will be suspended this weekend. However, there will still be construction workers performing their hazardous duties in the remaining projects.
If you are on a road construction crew and are injured due to a driver’s aggressive, distracted or intoxicated behavior, you have a right to seek compensation through workers’ compensation. An experienced attorney can provide more information about how to file a claim or approach a denied claim with an appeal.
Source: wmdt.com, “Increased Md. travel volume mirrors nat’l trend for holiday weekend,” accessed May 24, 2017
