Annapolis Roads Get Crowded. Here’s How to Stay Safe and Protect Your Rights

Annapolis can feel very different during waterfront events like boat shows. Traffic slows near City Dock, side streets fill, and everybody seems to be looking for the same parking spot at the same time. Busy days don’t have to end in a crash. With a few clear habits and a basic handle on Maryland rules, you can lower your risk — and handle the aftermath the right way if something happens.

If you end up injured in a car accident, the first minutes matter. What you do, who you talk to, what you record, and when you seek care can shape both your recovery and your insurance claim. Keep this guide handy during event weeks like the Powerboat and Sailboat Shows when crowds and out-of-town drivers raise the stakes.

Why Event Weeks Feel Different

Big shows pull in thousands of visitors who don’t know our one-way loops or the timing of the lights on West Street. Foot traffic near the docks balloons, ride-share pick-ups clog curbs, and delivery trucks work on tight schedules. More people means more near-misses around crosswalks, lots, and shuttle stops.

That mix — unfamiliar drivers, a compact historic core, and lots of pedestrians — creates predictable risk. Expect sudden stops, doors opening into bike lanes, and distracted turns across crosswalks downtown. Our goal is to keep you alert at the right moments.

Know the Maryland Rules that Keep People Safe

Understanding a few Maryland traffic rules helps you avoid tickets, prevent crashes, and know what to point to if someone else breaks them.

• Move Over applies to everyone on the shoulder. When you see any stopped vehicle with hazard lights or cones, either change lanes away or slow to a safe speed if moving over isn’t possible. Since 2022, the law covers all stopped, standing, or parked vehicles — not only police or tow trucks.
• Give people on bikes three feet when you pass. Maryland requires at least 3 feet of clearance when overtaking a bicycle, e-scooter, or similar device, with limited exceptions when the lane is too narrow. Dooring is also illegal.
• Buckle up and secure kids correctly. Everyone must wear seat belts; kids have specific restraint rules until age or height thresholds are met. If you carpool during the shows, double-check boosters and straps before you roll.
• Maryland requires liability insurance. Minimums are $30,000 per person, $60,000 per crash for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. These are floors, not targets — many drivers choose higher limits.
• Maryland follows contributory negligence. If a court finds you even slightly at fault, you could lose your right to recover money from the other driver. That’s a tough rule, and it’s one reason careful documentation matters.

Extra Care for People Outside Cars

Drivers aren’t the only ones at risk on show weekends.

Pedestrians

Make eye contact with motorists at crosswalks, stick to marked crossings, and don’t assume a stopped driver means the next lane will stop. If a vehicle hits you, call 911, get checked, and photograph the scene from the curb. Contributory negligence arguments can turn on small details, so document as much as you can.

Cyclists and Scooter Riders

Use front and rear lights at dusk, claim your lane when it’s too narrow to share the road, and watch for opening doors by restaurants and loading zones. If a crash occurs, save your GPS track and keep the damaged helmet; both can matter later. The three-foot passing and anti-dooring rules are on your side.

Watch Hot Spots During Boat Show Weeks

Crowds change how common routes behave. Here’s where locals see issues most oftenб and how to adjust to them:

• City Dock and Market Space: Expect pedestrians to step out between parked vans and food trucks. Ease into turns, check mirrors for cyclists at the edge of your blind spot, and pause an extra beat before opening doors near bike lanes. The three-foot passing rule and anti-dooring law protect vulnerable users here.
• Compromise Street bridge: Tight lanes and slow traffic tempt risky passes. Hold your lane. Give bikes space and patience on the climb.
• US-50/301 toward the Bay Bridge: Weekend backups and fender-benders are common. Move over when you see hazard lights on the shoulder; it’s the law, and it saves lives.

If a Crash Happens, Act Fast

It’s better to be prepared, so here are a few things to remember:

1. Get to a safe spot. Turn on hazards. If your car moves and it’s safe, pull out of the travel lane.
2. Call 911. Describe your location and any immediate dangers (fuel leaks, blocked lanes). Police and medics create the official trail you’ll need later. In Maryland, drivers must remain at the scene, give identifying information, and render reasonable aid.
3. Exchange the right details. Write down names, phone numbers, addresses, driver’s license numbers, tag numbers, and insurance company and policy numbers.
4. Capture the scene. Take wide shots and close-ups: vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, debris, street signs, traffic signals, crosswalks, lighting, and weather. Photograph your injuries and any deployed airbags.
5. Look for witnesses. Ask for names and contacts. A short voice memo works if your hands shake.
6. Seek medical care the same day. Adrenaline hides pain. A quick urgent care visit documents your condition for your health and your claim.
7. Report the crash if required. When police don’t respond to an injury crash, Maryland law requires drivers to file a written report with the MVA within 15 days and show proof of insurance.
8. Get your report. If the Maryland State Police or MDTA Police handled it, request a copy through their Central Records units. City crashes may go through the Annapolis Police. Keep the report number handy.

Use the Insurance Tools You Already Pay For

These types of coverage could be used after a crash:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Most Maryland auto policies include PIP unless you signed a waiver. PIP can pay medical bills and some lost wages quickly, regardless of fault. Check your policy or app; if you waived PIP, know that up front.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM): If the at-fault driver lacks enough insurance, UM/UIM may cover the gap up to your limits. It’s part of most Maryland policies.
• Collision and medical payments: These can help with car repairs and health costs while liability gets sorted.

Call your insurer to open a claim, but stick to facts. Don’t guess about speed or fault. Decline recorded statements for other drivers’ insurers until you’ve spoken with counsel.

Protect Your Claim from Day One

Write a simple log in your phone the same day: pain levels, missed shifts, childcare costs, co-pays, Uber receipts, and why you needed each ride. Keep a folder (paper or digital) for photos, the tow invoice, and letters from insurers. Avoid broad social posts about the crash or your injuries; they can be taken out of context later.

Maryland’s general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is three years from the date the claim accrues. Some claims have different deadlines, and notice rules can apply if a government vehicle is involved. Don’t sit on time-sensitive steps.

Bottom Line

Annapolis handles large crowds well, but busy weeks add stress to short blocks and tight turns. Drive like every corner hides a pedestrian, every parked car covers a cyclist, and every shoulder could hold a stopped vehicle. If a crash happens, act fast, document everything, get care, and use the protections Maryland law already gives you.

That combination — smart habits on the road and smart steps after — keeps you safer today and puts you on solid ground tomorrow.