Safe Driving & Sharing the Road
Managing space, staying alert, and respecting vulnerable road users prevent crashes on busy Maryland roads.
Following distance
Keep at least a three-second gap behind the vehicle ahead, and add more time in rain, fog, or on slick roads. This space gives you time to see and react if the driver ahead stops suddenly.
Sharing with cyclists and pedestrians
Give bicyclists room when passing and never share a lane with a motorcycle. Yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks, and watch for people walking near schools, transit stops, and neighborhoods.
School buses and seat belts
Stop for a school bus displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm, and remain stopped until it withdraws the arm and moves. Maryland law requires the driver and passengers to wear seat belts, and young children must ride in an approved child safety seat.