Task Force to Study Pedestrian and Bicyclist Injuries and Fatalities

HB 1421 establishes a Maryland task force to study pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities. The task force, composed of state transportation officials and legislative appointees, will examine specific issues like pedestrian visibility challenges (including dark clothing at night), weather impacts on cyclists, and safety actions pedestrians/bicyclists can take. It must submit recommendations to the Governor and legislature by October 1, 2027, on making roadways safer. The bill does not enact new safety laws but creates a study mechanism to inform future policy. The task force expires automatically on September 30, 2028.