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Local advocate urges support for Maryland motorcycle-safety bill after son's fatal crash
Summary
Jennifer Floyd of the Detourch Foundation told the Crisfield council she supports SB0068, which would add motorcycle-awareness questions to Maryland's driver tests; she described her son's 2024 death, the bill's unanimous Senate support so far, and local awareness efforts including petitions and May events.
Jennifer Floyd, founder of the Detourch Foundation, told the Crisfield mayor and council on March 11 that she is pushing SB0068 — the Detourch Road Safety Act — to require motorcycle-safety awareness material in Maryland's motor-vehicle exams and to increase the number of motorcycle-related questions on the written test.
Floyd described the 2024 death of her son, Donnell "Torch" Floyd Jr., who was killed in a left-turn crash in September 2024, and said she has worked with state lawmakers and the sheriff's office to advance awareness and mental-health outreach for riders. "I can't bring my son back home, but maybe I can get other riders back home to their family safely," she said.
Floyd said the bill would expand motorcycle-safety content in the motor-vehicle exam and require that at least one motorcycle question appears on each examinee's test; she noted the Senate committee and full Senate passed the measure unanimously and the bill now awaits House committee assignment. She urged residents to sign a petition and follow the foundation's social accounts to support the effort.
Council members expressed condolences and support and discussed complementary local steps such as holding awareness events during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May. One council member suggested the city coordinate a local awareness day or partner with the police department for outreach; Floyd said the foundation is planning May events, including a mental-health event in Prince George's County and a gala.
Why it matters: the proposal would change driver-education testing at the state level to include more motorcycle-safety material and could increase driver awareness in places with high motorcycle traffic. Floyd framed the bill as a preventative, educational measure aimed at reducing fatal crashes involving motorcycles.
What’s next: Floyd asked council to share the petition on the city's social channels; council members said they would support outreach and consider local awareness events in May.
