Yes, perhaps it makes sense to modify URI::db with:

--- a/lib/URI/maria.pm
+++ b/lib/URI/maria.pm
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 package URI::maria;
-use base 'URI::mysql';
+use base 'URI::mariadb';
 our $VERSION = '0.23';
 
 1;
diff --git a/lib/URI/mariadb.pm b/lib/URI/mariadb.pm
index 7072283..889abbf 100644
--- a/lib/URI/mariadb.pm
+++ b/lib/URI/mariadb.pm
@@ -2,4 +2,6 @@ package URI::mariadb;
 use base 'URI::mysql';
 our $VERSION = '0.23';
 
+sub dbi_driver { 'MariaDB' }
+
 1;
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