Maryland Bicycle Helmet Law Fact Sheet
Effective October 1, 1995, Maryland will have a law requiring all persons
under the age of 16 who are riding a bicycle (defined as a vehicle with two
or three wheels of which one is more than 14 inches in diameter (or are
passengers on a bicycle to wear a helmet that meets or exceeds one of three
standards for helmets: SNELL - Snell Memorial Foundation; ANSI - American
National Standards Institute; and ASTM - American Society for Testing and
Materials.
The law governs operation of a bicycle on any highway; bicycle way or other
property open to public or used by the public for pedestrian or vehicular
traffic. Those who do not obey the law would receive a warning from the
police and printed educational information about bicycle helmet use.
Failure to wear a bike helmet would be a civil offense. The new law will
not apply to bicyclists on the Ocean City Boardwalk between the Ocean City
Inlet and 27th Street. In addition, the new law will not change the
existing laws in Montgomery, Howard, or Allegany Counties.
Don't let children ride their bikes unless they wear their helmets.
Be consistent. If you allow your children to ride occasionally without
their helmets, they won't believe that helmet use really is important.
Tell your kids they have to find another way to play, or must walk or take
a bus to get somewhere, if they don't want to use their helmets.
Encourage your children's friends to wear helmets. Peer pressure can be
used in a positive way if several families in the neighborhood start making
helmet use a regular habit at the same time.
REMEMBER: Crashes causing head injuries can occur on sidewalks, driveways,
bike paths, and parks as well as on streets. You or your children can not
predict when a fall will occur. It's important to wear a helmet on every
ride, no matter how short.
Any Questions? E-Mail: ehvfc12@hotmail.com
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Last updated March 16, 2006