Statistics

• Motorcycle fatalities have over the last five years. 
• 87 people died in motorcycle-related crashes; more than 1,700 people were injured in 2006.
• Over 90 percent of the crash-involved motorcyclists are male and over 60 percent are between the ages of 21 and 39 years.
• Crashes are evenly divided between those involving only the motor cycle and those involving another motor vehicle. 
• Inattention again leads the list of contributing circumstances. 
• Drivers of other vehicles that collide with motorcycles frequently report not observing the motorcycle prior to the collision. 
• Despite Maryland’s helmet law, less than two-thirds of motorcyclists involved in crashes were reported as wearing a helmet.

Driving around motorcyclists

Drivers tend to look for other cars, not motorcycles. Over two-thirds of car-motorcycle crashes are caused by drivers, not motorcyclists. It is difficult to estimate a motorcycle’s speed and because motorcycles are small, they are sometimes hard to see.

Advice to drivers

• Respect the motorcyclist. Motorcycles are vehicles with the same privileges as any vehicle on the roadway. Give the motorcyclist a full lane of travel.
• Be on the look out for motorcycles.
• Give motorcyclists plenty of space. Traffic, weather and road conditions require motorcyclists to react and maneuver differently than the vehicle driver.
• Be courteous. Being courteous, non-aggressive & cooperative can go a long way in reducing crashes.

Motorcyclists have an equally important role in safety. Never assume that the drive of another vehicle can see you. It is your responsibility to make your presence known and follow all traffic laws.

Advice to motorcyclists

• Wear the proper gear. The proper equipment, including a motorcycle helmet, will protect your in the event of a crash, and reflective material will enhance your visibility to other motorists.
• Ride so you are seen. Use lane positioning to be seen. Ride with your headlight on and consider using a modulating headlight.
• Give yourself space and time to react. Allow space for emergency braking. Make lane moves gradually.
• Signal your intentions. Signal before changing lanes. Avoid weaving between lanes. Flash your brake light when you are slowing down and before stopping.
• Be courteous and respect other motorists.

Current Motorcycle Laws

Required equipment

• Helmets
• All motorcycle operators and passengers are required to wear a helmet that meets MVA standards.
• Eye protection
• A person may not operate a motorcycle unless the motorcycle has a windscreen or the operator wears an approved eye-protective device. 

Operation of a motorcycle

• All of Maryland’s traffic laws apply to motorcycle operators.
• A motorcycle is entitled to the full use of a lane and a motor vehicle may not be driven in any manner that would deprive a motorcycle of the full use of a lane.
• A person may not operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic.
• Motorcycles may not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.