MVA vs. DMV Rules and Language

In both Maryland and Virginia, their departments of motor vehicles exclusively addresses bicycles and road safety. However, the two states articulate their points in very different manners.

Maryland

Within the MVA handbook, there are six pages worth of bike safety and rules information. It explicitly states several rules and most importantly, that bicycles are vehicles. However, although there are several pages and most are very in-depth and positive in regards to bike safety; there is a section on cyclist safety that places greater responsibility of being safe in the hands of cyclists. It provides six mechanisms for riding your bike safely and avoiding traffic: obey the rules, ride with traffic, use signals when turning, turn safely, be prepared for slick road conditions, be visible at night, and have bicycle equipment. Although all these rules have their validity, there were two rules in particular that placed responsibility, and even hints of blame, on cyclists for possible collisions on the road. These two were:

Obey the Rules - This section explains how cyclists must obey street signs and lights. It also makes a point of explicitly saying that cyclists must "negotiate with traffic." Instead of warning cars to avoid cyclists on the road, it is in the hands of cyclists to negotiate their safety with others on the road.

Be Visible - Use Lights at Night - Here the MVA states that riders must have "a white headlight on the front and a red reflector on the back visible from at least 600 feet." This reflective gear is to allow cars to easily see cyclists and be aware of their presence; although this does prove to be logical at night, requiring cyclists to wear bright, reflective clothing in order to further articulate to drivers that they are on the road seems unnecessary. Drivers should be the individuals who are paying attention to cyclists, not cyclists who have to wear ridiculous head gear and clothing to attract attention to the road; a place where the drivers attention should already be.

These cyclist rules and regulations in Maryland are written in a manner that only applies to cyclists. Specifically, the rules are written to "You" the bike rider. The manner of phrasing is not toward a driver, but instead to the cyclist. This does not teach Maryland drivers how to properly drive amongst cyclists; instead, it relieves drivers of any responsibility for watching out for cyclists. Although there are several other pages that articulate more appropriately how to interact with cyclists, this section places concerning emphasis on the cyclists.

Virginia

The DMV handbook has slightly different phrasing for cyclist do's and don'ts than the MVA. In the DMV section the section on bike safety is specifically articulated toward transportation users as a whole and begins with a fundamental rule: "Bicycles are considered vehicles and have the same right-of-way as motor vehicles." This section continues by referring to bicyclists as only that, bicyclists. It never refers to the audience as "you" nor does it specifically speak to cyclists. It is written in a general form that is applicable and direct to both drivers and riders.

My favorite aspect of the DMV handbook is the understanding tone it takes toward cyclists. Specifically, there is a section that states, "Bicyclists are expected to obey the same traffic rules and regulations as vehicle drivers; however, many are children who may not know or obey the rules. Slow down when you approach bicyclists." This instills empathy in drivers at an early stage in their driving career. Unlike in Maryland's handbook, the DMV handbook articulates that drivers must look out for cyclists before changing lanes and moving amongst the road. In the MVA handbook, all pressure was placed on the rider to look out for vehicles when moving amongst the road.

The two handbooks both have specific sections geared toward bike safety; however, Virginia's approach appears to be the more proper and, frankly, more effective way of articulating bike safety on the road. And this feeling is not only felt by me, the author of this piece and local Virginian, but many Maryland residents as well. In particular, this feeling is expressed in an article from The Baltimore Sun called "In New Drivers Manual, MVA Gets Something Right." Clearly, there was some underlying frustration with the previous MVA handbook.

Understandably so, the rules outlines in this article highlight all of the same rules highlighted in the DMV handbook. The Virginia handbook has stated these rules for quite some time in an appropriate manner that has been recently addressed by Maryland. However this article changes the phrasing on the majority of the MVA's principles. The article explains the rules in a much more respectful voice that is appropriate to all audiences, not just cyclists. The article sees more of the intrinsic implications of these rules listed out in six pages of the MVA handbook; as such, they articulate their points in a better manner than what is actually outlined in the handbook.