As pedestrian accidents mount, Ocean City looks for answers, whoops I mean blame the victim and get the laws wrong
B' Spokes: Years back I attended a statewide bike/ped safety meeting and the Ocean City Police really impressed me as having a handle on all the aspects of pedestrian safety but after reading this article in the Sun http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-07-08/business/bs-md-oc-pedestrian-safety-20120702_1_pedestrians-ocean-city-crosswalk-signs I wounder what happened?
Surprising Aspects of Maryland Pedestrian Laws OK, actually that is about Florida pedestrian laws but as far as I can tell they are identical to Maryland (
1) There Is No “Jaywalking” Law
2) Yes you can cross mid-block on Coastal Highway as it resembles the top half of this illustration
3) § 21-504.(a) In general. -- Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian.
4) There are lots of unmarked crosswalks along Coastal Highway where the driver is legally obligated to stop for pedestrians, this is NOT Jaywalking!
- § 21-101.(i) Crosswalk. -- "Crosswalk" means that part of a roadway that is:
- (1) Within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at any place where 2 or more roadways of any type meet or join, measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the roadway;
- (2) Within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of a bicycle way where a bicycle way and a roadway of any type meet or join, measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the roadway; or
- (3) Distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings.
6) "a nine-mile ribbon of blacktop eight lanes wide." - I think I see the problem, over accommodating motorist and under accommodating pedestrians.
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