baltimorespokes

by Capital News Service
There were 841 accidents between cars and bikes in Maryland in 2012, according to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, a 5 percent increase over the 799 bike-car accidents in 2008.
Harford County resident Pam Moore never worried about sharing the road with cars until she was struck by one while riding her bike in August. She lost consciousness and suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs, abrasions and a concussion from the accident, she said.
“There was nothing I could do different,” Moore said. “I was following the laws. I was where I was supposed to be.”
In 2012, five people in Maryland died from bike-car crashes and 689 people were injured.
Many motorists do not view bicycles as vehicles that have an equal right to use the road, said Neil Buchness, president of Chesapeake Spokes, a bicycle group in Harford County.
“We’re actually people. We aren’t just something to contend with in the road or go around,” he said. “Give us a little more respect out on the road.”
Buchness said the state needs to ensure motorists know the law.
“I think the biggest thing that will help us is education. Getting it out there. The more people that realize that we are cyclists and we do have a right to the road,” the better, Buchness said.
According to the law, drivers must leave three feet between their car and bicyclists when passing them on the road.
“I think a lot of motorists feel that bicyclists are trespassing on the public roadways and that leads to resentment,” said Michael Jackson, director of bicycle and pedestrian access for the Maryland Department of Transportation.
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https://chestertownspy.com/2013/11/29/vehicle-accidents-involving-bikes-increase-sharply-on-last-five-years-7/

by Jim Titus, Edgewater Patch
Cyclists from around the state of Maryland were appalled last week when an Anne Arundel County grand jury failed to indict Whitney DeCesaris for negligent homicide in the death of Patricia Cunningham, an Annapolis High School coach who was killed on Riva Road by Ms. DeCesaris’s bad driving. The grand jury did indict her for a few traffic offenses such as negligent driving.
Shortly after the crash, I suggested in a Patch blog that the available information strongly suggested that this was negligent homicide (a misdemeanor with a maximum 3-year prison sentence), and urged people to email the State’s Attorney. About 600 people did so, and it’s clear that her office seriously investigated the possible homicide. I can not say whether the case was well-presented to the grand jury or not. If not, then the prosecutors can try again to get an indictment. The 5th Amendment’s prohibition of double jeopardy does not apply to grand jury investigations. If she pleads guilty to one of the traffic offenses, however, the 5th amendment will bar additional prosecution.
A criminal conviction of Ms. DeCesaris, however, is not the only means of achieving at least a modicum of justice. Of course no one can bring Ms. Cunningham back, so any talk about justice is relative. The goals of criminal punishment include retribution, prevention of additional harm, and rehabilitation. Here are a few other options.
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Drivers License Suspension.
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According to Transportation Article §16-206(5)(i), the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) "may suspend the license of a person who is convicted of a moving violation that contributed to an accident resulting in the death of another person" for up to 6 months.
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Fix the Roads
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Do Some Soul Searching
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https://edgewater.patch.com/groups/use-the-full-lane-/p/if-states-attorney-can-not-get-justice-for-patricia-cunningham-who-can