Meeting with MD State Highway Administration OfficialsKaren and Philip finally met with representatives of Maryland’s State Highway Administration (SHA) with regard to California’s Lane Splitting Guidelines as we
initiated back in February (due to John Douglas’ post). We had a reasonable face-to-face encounter with Mr. Cedric Ward and Mr. Jean Point-du-Jour in Hanover,
MD. Mr. Andrew Krajewski, Driver Safety Division Director, (a ‘mature’ and dedicated Gold Wing rider) teleconferenced into our meeting from his office at MVA
HQs in Glen Burnie. Andrew commutes from Frederick to Glen Burnie regularly, so he knew what I was talking about when we discussed my frustration when it
comes to getting stuck in a sudden Stau (
German for traffic jam)! As my email stated, this is becoming more common on Maryland’s highways all the time
(especially during the summer weekend getaway). I made reference to the
Washington Post’s February report that Washington D.C. obtained the
number 1 rating in wasting time and energy in the latest 2012 Texas A&M University
transportation study, and the fact that many countries allow and
encourage lane splitting on their highways and at traffic lights. Mr Krajewski had the
boldness to say he has often uses the break-down lane to proceed
slowly during such traffic jams, where I reminded him that that
isn’t technically LEGAL! He said he uses common sense and doesn’t want to excite already
irritated drivers. I remarked that my cousin in England told me that the whole point of riding a motorcycle on the M25 ring road is to be able to legally lane split
when necessary
(which is everyday)!http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/washington-rated-the-worst-for-traffic-congestion--again/2013/02/04/125be724-6ee3-11e2-8b8d-e0b59a1b8e2a_story.htmlhttp://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/566377/2012-urban-mobility-report.pdf We chatted constructively for almost an hour about the continuing development of Maryland’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), driver safety in general,
and motorcyclists in depth. We covered many of the topics that I had described in my initial email to MD bureaucrats on 14Feb13. Andrew said that he
participates in bimonthly meetings with selected individuals from various state agencies to further the production of the SHSP. One of those designated
individuals is our own Bob Henig who represents all MD motorcycle dealers. The next SHSP meeting is scheduled for June 10th, 1-3 PM on the ground floor
of the MVA HQs in Glen Burnie; I/we expect to attend and hear/steer the discussions more to motorcycle concerns (after the official business is concluded).
Address is: 6601 Ritchie Highway, N.E. Glen Burnie, MD 21062 (off I-695, Exit 3B, Rt. 2 South). The existing “working document” is at:
http://roads.maryland.gov/oots/SHSP.pdfThe MVA’s website states: "Traffic safety is a paramount concern in the State of Maryland," said Maryland Motor Vehicle Administrator John T. Kuo, who is
also Governor Martin O’Malley's Highway Safety Representative. "In Maryland, more people die in traffic crashes each year than from violent crime. More
than 500 people were killed in crashes in 2012." And “To reduce motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries, Maryland is focusing not only on the issues
that cause the greatest number of traffic safety problems, but on the geographic areas where traffic crashes are most prevalent. Avenues toward zero
deaths on which Maryland will concentrate are
distracted driving, impaired driving, aggressive driving, highway infrastructure, the wearing of seat belts
and pedestrian safety.”
I guess we motorcyclists would be better off if the young, irrationally exuberant riders could grow-up and not kill themselves or others while doing stupid bike
tricks on our highways, and if the cagers would Pay Attention to Their Driving Tasks by keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the steering wheel! Sláinte! (Gaelic) Phil & Karen2010 F800GS,
2009 F650GS,
2009 Kawasaki KLX250S,
2008 Honda CRF230L, and
1975 R90S.
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“…And pray that there’s intelligent life somewhere up in space,
‘Cause there’s bugger all down here on Earth.” –
Eric Idle’s The Galaxy SongView at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23Dm7sQ1C1E&feature=related +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+