Testimony on HB 973, The Pedestrian Safety Act of 2020
The Action Committee for Transit strongly supports HB 973.
Pedestrians risk injury and death on our roads. Nearly 3,000 pedestrians are injured annually in Maryland. In 2018 Maryland suffered 133 pedestrian fatalities, a 14% increase from the previous year. In 2019, there were 14 pedestrian deaths and nearly 600 pedestrians struck in Montgomery County.
The Pedestrian Safety Act of 2020 increases the minimum fines for failing to stop or yield to pedestrians, allots the revenue from each fine to the Pedestrian Safety Fund created last year, and requires the state to use the fund to prioritize locations near schools and school bus stops.
Most of our state roads are designed for cars rather than people. As a result, too many friends and neighbors are dying simply because they use their feet for transportation. Passage of HB 973 will make a significant contribution to the health and well-being of all Maryland residents.