Jake’s Law – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com The Best of Baltimore Since 1907 Tue, 04 Aug 2020 11:06:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Jake’s Law – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com 32 32 Climbing: Maryland Moves To 7th in Bicycle-Friendly Ranking https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/community/climbing-maryland-moves-to-7th-in-bicycle-friendly-ranking/ Tue, 06 May 2014 16:55:00 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?p=65705 Continued]]> Not that biking needs to be competitive—we like it fine just as everyday transportation—but we are pleased to see Maryland moving up four slots in the League of American Bicyclists’ annual ranking of bicycle-friendly states.

Maryland scored high marks in encouragement and legislation—creating a 3-foot passing law and toughening distracted driving penalties (Jake’s Law) in recent years—as well as education and encouragement. The state also received kudos for new polices that include bicycle education for police and an emphasis on bike safety in its strategic highway plan.

Maryland also received shout-outs for its active state advocacy group, Bike Maryland, as well as its “Complete Streets” policy, “Share the Road” campaign, and commitment to state funding. The state’s report card can be found here.

Washington, Minnesota, and Wisconsin made the podium in the rankings, coming in at No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, respectively. Delaware ranked fourth, with nearby Virginia and Pennsylvania at No. 18 and No. 19, respectively.

In a statement, Gov. Martin O’Malley highlighted the passage of the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013 as key in supporting alternative transportation efforts, including bicycling projects. Maryland will dedicate nearly $210 million over the next six years to programs that support alternative transportation projects, including bike lanes and trails. In 2011, O’Malley launched the Cycle Maryland initiative to promote cycling and increase funding to expand bicycling opportunities.

“To build a modern transportation system that supports the needs of all Marylanders, we have to invest in alternative forms of travel like bicycling,” said O’Malley. “We are honored that the League of American Bicyclists recognizes Maryland as a leader in making bicycling a true transportation alternative. Beyond the health benefits, expanding cycling and walking opportunities are fundamental to our ongoing efforts to foster sustainable land-use, protect the environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and better connect our communities.”

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]]> Federal Hill family fight for Jake’s Law https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/community/federal-hill-family-fight-for-jakes-law/ Tue, 14 Jan 2014 15:00:00 +0000 http://server2.local/BIT-SPRING/baltimoremagazine.com/html/?post_type=article&p=9404

Susan Yum never thought she’d be in this position. A former
public-relations executive, Yum and her husband, James “Spike” Owen, are
currently seeking to enact a law that makes the penalty for cell-phone
distracted driving just as serious as drunk driving.

Their activism comes after a December 2011 accident in which their
5-year-old son, Jake, was killed when a driver, on his cell phone, took
his eyes off the road and smashed into their car. The driver was found
guilty of two minor traffic violations, and his punishment was a total
of $1,000 in fines. “Because of the prevalence of cell-phone use in
cars, it is not considered a gross deviation of standard behavior,” says
Yum, who also has an 11-year-old daughter, Alexandra, whose femur was
snapped in the accident. “We want there to be a stern message about how
dangerous this distraction is so that the behaviors will change.”

After the trial ended, Yum and Owen, who live in Federal Hill,
founded the nonprofit Change for Jake Foundation, and Jake’s Law is its
first initiative. Currently, they are having the law drafted and aim to
introduce it in the 2014 legislative session, starting this month.

Yum cites a 2013 study by the Cohen Children’s Medical Center, which
found that texting while driving is now responsible for more annual teen
deaths (3,000) than drinking and driving. While many states (including
Maryland) have banned using cell phones while driving, there are only a
couple of states that consider it a felony when a fatality is caused by
cell-phone distracted driving. “That’s the model we’d like to use,” Yum
says. “We’d like it so they can no longer use the defense of calling it a
mere accident.”

Right now, Yum is meeting with lawmakers and fundraising with a
ZIP-code challenge, aka each ’hood trying to out-fundraise the other.
“The fact is, it took 20-30 years for M.A.D.D. to get its message
across,” Yum says. “We can’t afford to wait that long.”

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